Historical Research, Inc. Papers on the Federal Reserve Bank Site Selection
Description of Contents
This collection is the research of the company Historical Research, Inc. as part of the search by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis for a new building site. It contains articles, documentation, maps, National Register Nomination forms, timelines, and evaluations of buildings and sites. It includes in-depth historical reviews of the sites and businesses over the course of the history of Minneapolis. Also included are photographs and photocopies of photographs of the various sites and buildings. The sites evaluated include Bridgehead, the Nicollet Hotel, the Warehouse District, the Twin Cities Rapid Transit Co’s steam plant, the Main Street Hydro Electric Station, Berman Buckskin Building and others. The materials are drawn primarily from the collections of the Hennepin County Library, the Minnesota Historical Society and the National Archives.
Also includes 15 color slides. Slides appear to be of Warehouse District or St Anthony Falls area (one address is 201 E Hennepin). Photographer is L.A. Boehme. Print photographs were taken by Norene Roberts.
Dates
- Creation: 1990 - 1994
Creator
- Historical Research, Inc (Organization)
Access
The collection is available for use in Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library during the department's open hours.
History
In the early 1990s, a search began for a new Federal Reserve building site to accommodate more staff and technology. Historical Research Inc. helped research several sites in Minneapolis and created a significant amount of research materials. The former site of the Great Northern Depot on the Minneapolis riverfront was chosen and construction began in the winter of 1994. The new Federal Reserve Bank building was occupied in August 1997. The cost of the building was $100 million. The bank was designed by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (St. Louis, Missouri) and built by McGough Construction Company (St. Paul, Minnesota). Its address is 90 Hennepin Ave. to signify the bank represents the Ninth Federal Reserve District. The Ninth district includes Montana, South and North Dakota, Minnesota, the upper peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin.
Congress established the Federal Reserve in 1913. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis was at first a tenant in a leased space. In 1919 Congress approved the construction of new head office buildings for each of the 12 Federal Reserve districts. The Ninth District Federal Reserve purchased a tract of land at Fifth Street and Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis and selected architect Cass Gilbert, well known for his design of the Minnesota Capitol and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul. Minneapolis Federal Reserve employees moved into the four-story neoclassical building in 1925.
An eight-floor addition atop the building was constructed from 1955 to 1957. The modern, upper stories with stark, vertical lines stood in contrast to the neoclassical base. Later after the building was sold to National Bank the base was modernized to match the skyscraper addition. The first building still exists as 510 Marquette at the corner of Marquette Ave. and 5th St. S in Minneapolis.
In 1973, the bank moved to its second location at 250 Marquette Ave. The new building, later known as Marquette Plaza, was beset by design problems and asbestos contamination. The Federal Reserve chose to sell it and build the new building at the riverfront.
Extent
5.42 Linear Feet (14 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Donor Information
This collection was donated by the president of Historical Research, Inc. in 1994, Dr. Norene Roberts as accession 2000.174.
Related Materials in Hennepin County Library Special Collections
Some materials were removed from the archives and added to other files:
Vertical Files: Restaurants: White Castle.
M/A 0235 Historical Research, Inc. Records
See also:
Dania Hall by the Cedar Riverside Project Area Committee, HT177.M6 C39 1977
Historical Survey of Cedar Riverside by Noreen Davis Roberts, F614.M5R62
Processing Information
Processing began by Norene Roberts continued by JoEllen Haugo, January 2006. Collection boxed and labeled by Norene Roberts. Finding aid prepared by Norene Roberts and JoEllen Haugo. Slides and photographs originally separated from collection and added to uncatalogued photos were returned to the collection by Jenna Himsl in August 2018.
Subject
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (Organization)
- Title
- Historical Research, Inc. Papers on the Federal Reserve Bank Site Selection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- JoEllen Haugo
- Date
- January 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Hennepin County Library Special Collections Repository
Minneapolis Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis MN 55401 U.S.A.
612-543-8200
specialcoll@hclib.org