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Business History is an information and education resource - invaluable for
perspective on the history of capitalism, commerce, enterprise,
entrepreneurship, operating success and failure and management
decision-making. It is a labor of love and passion, begun
more than 15 years ago by a guy with a liberal arts degree from
Georgetown University, an MBA from the University of Chicago, an MLS from St. John's University (NY), author of 2 published business books (contributor to a 3rd), founder of the business journalism program at Boston University School of Communication and years of work on Wall Street.
Genesis 1990:
Many college seniors visited the options trading floor of
the American Stock Exchange to observe what 'market making'
and trading 'looked like'. Each was visiting New York City
to interview for a job at a brokerage firm. I asked
each woman and man if s/he had read anything about the firm in particular
(with which each had a scheduled interview) or about the
history of Wall Street in general, since each had chosen the
securities industry as a career path. To a person the answer was no - nothing
read! I empathized, as I was sure that I, at their age and
stage in life, had also read little
about Wall Street prior to my start in the securities industry. Further
discussion revealed not that each wasn't interested in
reading about Wall Street's past but that each just didn't know what to read, how much material might be available or how much time it might take to find
it. I wasn't sure myself but decided to investigate. That
led to many hours in the business library at NYU's Stern
Graduate School of Business and my first foray into business
history.
Research led to a far greater awareness of Wall Street's fascinating history and to the producing of an expansive bibliography on it used at Georgetown University. It also sparked a passion and excitement for histories of all businesses, regardless of industry. They are 'Studies in Enterprise', as Lorna Daniells wrote (former head of the Reference Department and Business Bibliographer at Baker Library, Harvard Business School). They are also testament to human creativity, passion, perseverance - and customer
development!
Business History is a 'stealth' topic. Few colleges or graduate business schools have specific courses in business history vs. economic history. Library catalogs do not make clear the corresponding association between authors/subjects and their respective companies/industries. Web portals with a history focus or history links
rarely address business history as a separate and distinct entry.
Business History strives to shine a brighter light on this facet of
human history.
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