World Bank Group 75th Anniversary Series

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World Bank Group 75th Anniversary Series

Interest in the origin of the World Bank is always a popular topic among World Bank Group staff, researchers, and the general public. This was especially true in recent years as our institution marked a number of important anniversaries related to its creation. Archives staff were busy commemorating the 75^th anniversaries of the Bretton Woods Conference (July 1944), the ratification of the institution’s Articles of Agreement (December 1945), and the day the World Bank first opened its doors (June 1946). As part of this work, we have produced a series of online exhibits exploring the events and their importance to our history.

Bretton Woods and the Birth of the World Bank
On July 1, 1944, delegates from 44 nations met at the secluded Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire to participate in what became known as the Bretton Woods Conference.
75th Anniversary of World Bank Articles of Agreement Ratification
On December 27, 1945, representatives from twenty-one countries became the Bank’s first members, thereby ratifying the Articles of Agreement and ushering the Bank into existence.
World Bank Opens Doors 75 Years Ago
On June 25th, 1946, World Bank staff arrived at 1818 H St. for their first day of work. 75 years later we looked back and imagined what that experience was like.

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