I've been abroad for 6 years. Had a limited credit history for 20 years prior, several mortgages and several credit cards, all paid off without paying interest (except the mortgages). On all of these I was the secondary account holder. I want to establish credit and to know what credit history from 2003 back will show up on my record? So how far do the agencies go back?
I am presuming that as secondary account holder, what I paid for many years, just does not count. I really do not exist as a borrower or as a creditable person to lend to. Am I wrong?
I would really need to know where I stand.

Normally your record for 7 years appear unless it is negative info and things like bankrutpcy or judgements show up for 10 year

First thing you should do is go to www.annualcreditreport.com and get a copy of your report. You might be surprised what is on it... hopefully not ID Theft!

Positive trade lines stay on your report indefinitely, so you should see a bunch of closed accounts (if they are in fact closed). Negative items CAN stay (not HAVE to stay) on your report for 7 years (10 years for a Ch. 7 BK).

If all the trade lines show closed, you will probably not have a score. Even if they show "open" status, credit cards go into inactive status after about 6 months of no use and cease to help you.

Generally, once you establish some credit, it will "wake up" your prior trade lines and will help you only a little; mostly because they are 6 years old or more.

Hope this helps!