Anna Jacobson Schwartz entered the world on the 11th of November 1915 in New York City. She lived in New York City for the rest of her life while working at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Milton Friedman joined what became known as the Schwartz team to co-author A Monetary History of the United States, 1867, 1960 which arrived in 1963. A separate chapter titled The Great Contraction received republication as its own book in 1965.
Graduation from Barnard College came at age eighteen when she earned Phi Beta Kappa honors. Columbia University followed quickly for a master's degree in economics by nineteen years old.
Evidence spanning over two centuries showed business failures did not cause major consequences if prevented from spreading through the financial system. Individual institutions should be allowed to fail without taxpayer support according to her approach emphasizing preventing systemic spread rather than bailing out specific banks.
A significant public role emerged in 1981 as staff director of the U.S. Gold Commission. Public recognition came again in 1981 when she served as staff director of the U.S. Gold Commission.