The Treasury of Life

Dedicated in 2008 through a partnership between the Museum of Work and Culture and Navigant Credit Union, this exhibit was designed to represent an old bank/credit union vault. Big banks often refused to give loans or services to working class/immigrant individuals. Credit Unions were formed to fill the holes left by the big banks. Credit Union Central Falls was the first Rhode Island credit union created in 1915 to help the working class get loans. It was later rebranded as Navigant Credit Union in the early 2000s. 

These are real safety deposit boxes which are available for purchase by the public to store their family memorabilia, such as birth certificates, immigration papers, photographs, letters and other keepsakes. 100% of the proceeds from the sales of the boxes goes to the Museum’s endowment fund. Prices for boxes start at $1,000 and payment plans are available. Additionally, families can volunteer to display the content of their boxes in the museum.