Engineer's Club of Minneapolis Records

The Engineers’ Club of Minneapolis (ECM) held their first meeting on May 4, 1883 at the “Board of Trade Room” in the old City Hall. Invited were all 30 engineers of Minneapolis whose addresses could be found. At the June meeting By-Laws were adopted and Andrew Rinker was elected President, William De La Barre, Vice President, William A. Pike, Secretary and George O. Foss, Librarian.

The club, initially called the Engineers Club of Minnesota, was formed for the purpose of “the professional improvement of its members, the encouragement of social intercourse among engineers and men of practical science, and the advancement of Engineering.” Membership was open to civil, mechanical, geological and mining engineers and other persons interested in the advancement of engineering, who were at least 21 years old.

In 1888 a new constitution was adopted and the club became the Minneapolis Society of Civil Engineers. In 1890 the club was again reorganized as the Engineers Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Between 1900 and 1902 membership had grown to 62. Early activities of the club included excursions to the Kettle River Sandstone Company’s quarry and the clay industries in Red Wing.

In 1953-54, membership was at 1,018. Mayor Donald M. Fraser proclaimed the week of May 8 to May 14, 1983 as “The Engineers’ Club of Minneapolis Week” in honor of the club’s 100th anniversary. The Engineers’ Foundation of Minneapolis, Inc. was established in 1983 to provide scholarships to students in the engineering profession.

In 1991 the club’s purpose as stated in their constitution was to “create united action and a desire for mutual betterment of the members of the Engineering Profession, to stimulate a greater interest among engineers in the welfare of their community, and to promote the advancement of the arts and sciences connected with the Engineering Profession.” Membership at this time was open to: anyone professionally engaged in engineering, architecture or applied sciences; anyone who was engaged in work closely associated with these; anyone who had previously been so engaged; and anyone who held a scientific or engineering degree, and who was qualified as required by the By-Laws.