History of the Louisiana Department of Treasury
The Louisiana Department of the Treasury has a long history of protecting and managing the state’s financial resources. The State Treasurer is an elected constitutional officer who serves as Louisiana’s chief financial officer, overseeing the receipt, custody, investment and disbursement of public funds.
For generations, Louisiana’s State Treasurers have carried out this responsibility, working to safeguard the state’s finances and ensure public resources are managed responsibly.
As Louisiana has grown and changed, so have the responsibilities of the Department of the Treasury. The Louisiana Constitution of 1974 established the Department of the Treasury and outlined the constitutional duties of the State Treasurer, with subsequent legislation further defining the Department’s structure and responsibilities.
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The Louisiana Treasury Vault
One of the clearest reminders of that history can be found inside the Louisiana State Capitol: the Louisiana Treasury Vault.
Built in 1932 by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company, the same year the Capitol was completed, the vault was designed to securely store state money, records and important documents. Its heavy steel construction and specialized locking mechanisms were considered advanced security features for the time and reflect the importance placed on protecting the state’s financial assets and records.
Built in 1932
Diebold Safe and Lock Co.
Historic Security
Relocking & “Thermatic” locking devices
Preserving History
Money, records and important documents
Wall of State Treasurers
The vault also tells the story of the office itself through the Wall of State Treasurers, which lists the names of Louisiana’s State Treasurers dating back to 1868. Together, the names and historical records preserved in the vault offer a tangible connection to the people who have served as stewards of Louisiana’s finances throughout the years.
Louisiana State Treasurers
1868 – Present
Continuing a Tradition of Stewardship
Today, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury continues that work through investments, fiscal control, unclaimed property, administration and other areas of financial management—all while carrying forward a tradition of stewardship that stretches back more than a century.
Investments
Fiscal Control
Unclaimed Property
Administration