World Bank Group Timeline
Bretton Woods Conference begins
The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, better known as the Bretton Woods Conference, is held at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, July 1-22, 1944. The conference was preceded by years of planning and discussion that laid the foundation for the conference’s success. Lord John Maynard Keynes of the United Kingdom leads the commission on the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The commission produces the draft proposal for the World Bank’s Articles of Agreement, which are approved by conference delegates.
Resource Gallery
Mt. Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods
Undated
Mt. Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, hosts representatives of 44 Allied countries for the Bretton Woods Conference from July 1-22 (3008355; Credit: AP).
Henry Morgenthau addresses delegates
July 8, 1944
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau addresses delegates at the Bretton Woods Conference (1806798; Credit: U.S. Office of War Information in the National Archives).
Bretton Woods Conference country delegates
July 1944
Chairmen of the 44 country delegations at the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire pose for their official portrait (1806787; Credit: AP/Wide World Photos).
Bretton Woods Conference country delegates
July 6, 1944
Bretton Woods Conference delegates, left to right: M. S. Stepanov, chairman of the delegation from the USSR; John Maynard Keynes, chairman of the United Kingdom delegation; and Vladimir Rybar, chairman of the Yugoslavia delegation (1806806; Credit: U.S. Office of War Information in the National Archives).
Extracts from Final Act and Related Documents
September 1946
The Final Act contains the definitive texts of the resolutions, statements, and reccomendations adopted by the Bretton Woods Conference (1849790).
Interview with Irving S. Friedman
Interview date: Dec. 11, 1985 and Feb. 6 and 28, 1986
Bretton Woods is discussed on pages 1-2 and 28-31.
Bretton Woods and the Birth of the World Bank
Originally published: June 2021
This exhibit highlights the Bretton Woods Conference, which resulted in producing the Articles of Agreement for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
