Extended Assignments:

Have students research other solutions to the bank crisis. For example, some communities used scrip (used in Atlantic City, N.J. as mentioned in The Urbana Daily Courier on March 9, 1933), extended credit, or allowed their banks to close. Compare and contrast the other solutions with the use of Urbana Money.

Have students research how long Urbana Money was in use. Use The Urbana Daily Courier newspapers starting March 6, 1933 and browse for several weeks.

Have students research the public reaction to Urbana Money. Were there letters to the editor (again check the Urbana Daily Courier)? Did news articles/letters to the editor indicate that Urbana Money was accepted by the public?

What types of advertising methods were used to gain support for Urbana Money? Have students research advertising techniques that were used for Urbana Money and compare them to a current government or commercial ad campaign.

Two Hollywood portrayals of the bank crisis can be easily adapted for use in conjunction with discussions of Urbana Money. The first clip, which has several parallels to the situation in Urbana, comes from It’s a Wonderful Life (1939). Jimmy Stewart’s character uses his own savings to prevent his bank from closing. Show students a clip from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. How did the main character attempt to prevent a run on the bank? How successful was he? How does Jimmy Stewart’s character’s efforts compare with those of the Urbana Association of Commerce? Have students write an analytical paper about the clip you showed based on what they have learned about the bank crisis and Urbana Money. The second clip is also from a Frank Capra film, American Madness (1932), which has an excellent portrayal of a run on a bank that conveys the panic and fear of depositors as they are attempting to withdraw their money. The bank run in American Madness was prompted by rumors in the community. In Mayor Harmon’s article in The Urbana Daily Courier, he expresses disappointment in members of the community for spreading rumors.

Have students write a letter to a member of the Urbana Association of Commerce (circa 1933) expressing their opinions (hopes, concerns, or questions) about Urbana Money.