MADISON, WI – A new feature on Googolplex traces the history of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA's) 'Umbrella Man'. Googolplex, the CU Guide for Student Moneymakers is published by CUNA & Affiliates. The online magazine provides fresh content to students each week to help them learn to:

• Save for the future.
• Spend wisely.
• Borrow responsibly.

First drawn in 1923 by Joseph Stern, an artist for the Boston Globe, the 'Umbrella Man' symbolized the

credit union movement for nearly 40 years. The original drawing shows a happy, little credit union member under

an umbrella. Above him hard times, sickness, and financial distress rain down.

At the request of Roy Bergengren, Stern drew the 'Umbrella Man' and other cartoons for The Bridge, now

Credit Union Magazine, when it was first published in June 1924. In The Bridge, the man appeared

in a bridge tender's outfit holding a sign saying, "The Road is Open."

During World War II, the man traded his umbrella for a gun to help credit unions sell war bonds. In one

drawing, the little man smiles as he rides a tank with his thumb in the air. The ad reads, "This credit union has

enlisted for Victory." In another version, the little man stands at attention with a gun in his hand and his

umbrella stuck in the ground by his side.

In 1954, as credit unions began to spread around the globe, CUNA created an international services department

called the World Extension. To reflect this expansion, designers encircled the man with a dot pattern and a

globe.

Finally, in the mid-1960's, the 'Umbrella Man' drawing was retired. While credit unions can still use the

little man with the umbrella as their trademark, they rarely do. The security of credit union membership that he

symbolizes, however, lives on.

The complete story and a link to the original cartoon are available at

Credit Unions: keeping members dry

.

For more information on Googolplex, contact Darlene Brightbill at (800) 356-9655, ext. 4344 or visit

www.cuna.org and enter "Googolplex" in the

search box.