PHILADELPHIA–The authors of the Declaration of Independence may have come together 249 years ago to author one of the most transformative documents conceived by man, but what is lesser known is just how many credit union names would be the result of their work.
Thomas Jefferson is widely recognized as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, but he was part of a writing committee of five men that also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
A quarter of a millennium later and a review of NCUA’s database finds 20 credit unions with “Jefferson” in their names, just five of which are active charters. Overall, seven of those Jefferson CUs were named for counties.
Almost an Almanac Full of Names
Benjamin Franklin may have played a lesser role in writing the Declaration, but he proved to be more popular as a basis for names of credit unions. NCUA shows there were 23 CUs with Franklin in their names, just eight which are active, including Franklin First and Franklin Mint and Franklin Trust.
There were eight credit unions with Adams in their names, but just one is still serving members: North Adams ME Credit Union in Massachusetts.
There were also three “Sherman” CUs, none of which remain active, including Folger Company Sherman Employees CU in Sherman, Texas, which no longer perks along.
The NCUA database reveals five Livingston CUs were operating at one point, although today just Livingston Parish CU is still filing a 5300. The CU is in Denham Springs, La. and has $11.4 million in assets.
Letting Freedom Ring
What the Declaration of Independence inspired in the United States would lead to 19 credit unions with “Freedom” in their name, eight of which are active charters. This includes three Freedom Credit Unions, all state charters in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Utah, respectively. There are also a Freedom 1st and a Freedom First, as well as a Freedom United.
For Paul Revere, it may have been “one if by land, two if by sea,” as memorialized by the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, but at one point there were five credit unions with Revere in their names. Today, apparently it’s land, because there is just one remaining: Revere Firefighters in, appropriately enough, Revere, Mass.
Seeking Liberty
The authors of the Declaration of Independence were declaring their liberty, and the NCUA data show there were 26 credit unions with “Liberty” in their names. Just nine of those are still operating.
There is just one Liberty Credit Union (in Evansville, Ind.) There were at one point two Liberty Bell Credit Unions, one of which was in Kansas, and neither of which is ringing that bell any longer.
America the Beautiful (Name)
Not surprisingly, the biggest category of names inspired by the country is those with either “America” or “American” in their names, with the NCUA data base showing 179 such CUs. Unfortunately, there are just 23 such-named CUs operating today, beginning with 1st MidAmerica CU in Bethalto, Ill.
There are also America’s First CU (it actually isn’t), American First, and America First. There are also American Pride, Credit Union of America, and Spirit of America still serving members. For those who imbibe a bit too much this July 4rth, there is also American Hammered Credit Union in Baltimore.
It should also be noted that North America Martyrs CU, fittingly, is among those that have gone on to that great co-op in the sky.
A review of the “America” CUs also finds historical markers of all those who are part of the melting pot, including several Polish-American credit unions, as well as Ukrainian America, Spanish American, Swedish American, Salem Italian American, Russian American, Chinese American FCU, and Caribbean American.
Nostalgic Road of U.S. Industry
Similarly, searching the word “American” in the NCUA database is also a nostalgic trip down the road of industry of this country, including American Paper Employees CU, American Steel Foundries Employees, American Sterilizer, American Trouser Employees, American Zinc Employees and more.
One will also find there were once 28 credit unions with the word “Eagle,” in their names, 11 of which are still flying, including a Blue Eagle, Golden Eagle and a White Eagle CU.
Happy July 4rth from the CU Daily.