America’s Credit Union Museum

Leader: Peggy Powell, Executive Director

Postal Address:

 America

Credit Union Museum

P.O. Box 603

Manchester, NH 03105-0603

Postal Address:

America

Credit Union Museum

418-420 Notre Dame Avenue

Manchester, NH 03102

Phone: 603.629.1553

FAX: 603.629.1595

E-mail: ppowell@acumuseum.org

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday

from 10 am to noon, and from 1 pm to 4 pm or by appointment.

You can call the museum and organize an individual guided tour, not forget to mention the number of people.

The History

America is the homeland of the credit unions. By the beginning of the twentieth century, thousands of immigrants pursuing work and a better life found their way to the mills of the largest textile-manufacturing center in the nation-Manchester, New Hampshire. Although gainfully employed, they were denied the privileges of savings and credit.

On a hillside overlooking the mills stood St. Marie’s church. As pastor, Monsignor Pierre Hevey knew that many of his parishioners worked in these mills and needed a safe place to save their money and gain access to reasonable credit.

With Counsel and guidance from Canada’s credit union movement leader, Alphonse Desjardins, and the commitment of local attorney Joseph Boivin to serve as the first president and house the credit union in his home, Monsignor Hevey and his parishioners established the first credit union in the United States in 1908. Originally called St. Mary’s Cooperative Credit Association its name was revised in 1925 to «Bank of the People», St. Mary’s.

From these humble beginnings the movement that promoted thrift and provided access to credit for the working class spread across America. Today there are more than 10 000 credit unions in the U. S. representing 80 000 members.

The Building

Credit Union Museum

The building of the museum has not changed since its foundation. Is a three-storey building, where two floors are devoted to the history of credit unions housing the exhibits and artifacts. But the third floor is designed for corporate meetings and events; it can accommodate 85 people and is equipped with LCD — projectors. The first floor is designed to illuminate the history of credit unions in the United States during 1908-1933. On the second floor there are historical artifacts dating 1934 when the Federal Credit Union Act was issued, allowing the creation of credit unions in all the states of America.

Membership in the museum

Membership in the museum assumes its sponsorship to support the development of the museum. Depending on the amount that you send to the fund you are given a certain level.

1. Founders circle. Contribution amount of $ 100 000+

2. Benefactors circle. Contribution: from 50,000 to 99,999 dollars.

3. Monsignor Heavy circle. Contribution: from 25,000 to 49,999 dollars.

4. Pillar members. Contribution from 15 000 to 24 999 dollars.

5. Cornerstone members. Contribution from 5 000 to 14 999 dollars.

6. Patron members. Contribution from 1000 to 4999 dollars.

7. Museum members. Contribution up to 999 dollars.