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PREFACE.

The period covered in this Early History of Banking in Iowa extends from 1836 to 1846, with short sketches of the political and economic conditions from 1846 to the Constitutional Convention of 1857. It includes the history of the Miners' Bank of Dubuque, the only chartered bank, and the discussions of banks in the Constitutional Conventions of 1844 and 1846.

The inter-relation of the economic and political characteristics of the period is fully treated, and so much of the social history is given as is necessary to make clear the economic and political. The historical setting of the more important opics has been given when it has been thought necessary to nake clear the economic and political conditions.

The chronological order has been followed in the main, as the subject is not evolutional, but follows quite closely the passing financial and related political events of the other states of the Union. The only variation from a strictly chronological treatment is made where it has been thought necessary to give a summation of historical events to make clear the discussion of the topic following.

The material for this monograph is very intractable, in many cases, for it bristles with details which defy all attempts at condensation without consequent loss of clearness. Condensation has been made wherever it has been practicable.

The material from which the history of this period has been drawn is widely scattered. The principal part of it has been found in the library of the State Historical Society at Iowa City, including the Journals of the House of Representatives and Council of Iowa Territory, and the files of the Iowa Capital Reporter from 1841 to 1846, and the Iowa Standard from 1840 to 1845 and the Bloomington Herald from 1841 to 1846.

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The file of the Dubuque Visitor and Iowa News was found at the Library of the State Historical Department lately merged into the Iowa State Library. Use has been made of material found in the library of the University of Chicago, The Newberry Library, the Chicago Public Library, and the Library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, obtained while pursuing investigations upon allied subjects. One can but regret the almost total disappearance of the earlier documents from the State archives, only two documents used in this monograph are found there.

Acknowledgments of thanks are due to Professor Isaac A. Loos, under whose direction the work was undertaken, for courtesies extended during research work and for assistance given in reading the advance sheets; but for any errors found in the text he should not be held responsible. Assistance has been given by Professor Benjamin F. Shambaugh and use has been made of his "Fragments of the Debates of the Iowa Constitutional Conventions of 1844 and 1846" to check the references cited for the Constitutional Conventions of 1844 and 1846.

Courtesies during investigation were extended by Miss Adelaide Lloyd, formerly Custodian of the Iowa State Historical Society; Charles Aldrich, Curator and Secretary of the State Historical Department of Iowa; Johnson Brigham, State Librarian, and his assistant, A. J. Small; Reuben G. Thwaites, Secretary and Superintendent of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

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