naa004 Ellerbe Architects Papers, 1914-1959 University of Minnesota Libraries June 2004
University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455
EAD encoding by Leslie Czechowski and Kelly Dugan, June 2004 English Ellerbe Architects, Inc. Ellerbe Architects papers 1914-1959 University of Minnesota Libraries. Northwest Architectural Archives, Manuscripts Division [naa] 40.5 cubic feet The collection contains tracings, drawings and specifications for 45 buildings, including the working drawings for the Mayo Clinic 1914 building and Mayo's Plummer Building, the St. Paul City Hall & Courthouse, the Chateau Dodge Theater in Rochester, MN, the Blackhawk Hotel of Davenport, Iowa, and several private residences. N 4 English Administrative Information Restrictions on Access

Available for use in Manuscripts Division reading room.

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

Ellerbe Architects Papers (N 4), Northwest Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis.

Acquisition

Donated to the Archives in 1973.

 Accruals

Additions received on an irregular basis.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Manuscripts Division staff, 1975.

 Related Material

See also the Thomas Ellerbe Papers (N 4a) and the C.F. Haglin Papers (N 33).

 Arrangement

The collection is organized into two major series:

Mayo-related buildings Non-Mayo-related buildings Biographical and Historical Notes

Franklin Ellerbe was born in Mississippi and moved to Minnesota when he was a child. Nothing is known of his early career and education. At age 39, after working as St. Paul building inspector, he started his own practice in St. Paul in 1909. His first major project was the Old Fireside Inn, a combination dance hall, retail store, and apartment complex in St. Paul's St. Anthony Park (1909). This was followed by a series of commercial, educational, and industrial buildings in Minnesota and South Dakota, in addition to medical and residential facilities for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. (1914, 1916). In 1920, Ellerbe designed a large hotel for that city, the Kahler.

Olin Round joined Ellerbe as a partner in 1911 and remained in the firm, renamed Ellerbe & Round, until 1914. Round was born about 1867 and educated at the Art Institute of Chicago. He is known to have set up an architectural practice in 1909 after working as chief draftsman for Mark Fitzpatrick of St. Paul for an unknown number of years. After joining Ellerbe in partnership, Ellerbe and Round gained national distinction by designing the original building for the Mayo Clinic (1912-13), the first group practice clinic in the United States. After this partnership dissolved, Round was briefly in business with Service A. Wager (1914-15) and then set up a private office in St. Paul. He died in St. Paul on August 10, 1927.

Ellerbe established his own firm after his partnership with Round and it swiftly became one of the largest in St. Paul. But premature death cut short a promising career. He died in St. Paul on July 21, 1921.

Control of the Ellerbe firm was taken over by Franklin's son Thomas Ellerbe. He was born in St. Paul in 1892. His education included one quarter at the University of Minnesota, sculpting classes at St. Paul Art School (now Minnesota Museum of American Art), and military engineering courses. He entered his father's firm following military duty before and during World War I with the Minnesota National Guard. After his father's death, Ellerbe led his company in an expansion that resulted in creation of the largest architectural practice in Minnesota. The firm specialized in the design of medical facilities, educational, industrial, and commercial structures. Among them are: the Plummer Building of the Mayo Clinic (1922-28); St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Court House (1931-32); Cardozo Building (St. Paul)(1931); College of St. Thomas (St. Paul)(1928-46); the Northwest Airlines hanger at Holman Field (St. Paul)(1942-43); Cleveland (OH) Clinic and Hospital (1922); Mayo Clinic Diagnostic Building (1953-69); and Sacred Heart Church (St. Paul)(1949). The firm also completed a number of buildings for the University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN) and for State Farm Insurance Company.

Thomas Ellerbe retired in 1966 and died in St. Paul on November 5, 1987. The firm was renamed Ellerbe Becket in 1988 after a merger with Becket Architects of Los Angeles, CA, and has its headquarters in Bloomington, MN.

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains tracings, drawings, and specifications for 45 buildings, dated from 1914 to 1959, including medical facilities, hotels, commercial structures, banks, schools, and private residences in Minnesota and surrounding states. These include working drawings for the Mayo Clinic (1914 building and Plummer Building); the Chateau Dodge Theater (Rochester, MN)(1927); St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Court House (1931-32); First National Bank (Mankato, MN)(1912-13); Dakota Western University Science Hall, Gymnasium, and Power House (Mitchell, SD)(1911-15); Blackhawk Hotel (Davenport, IA)(1951); Nicollet Hotel remodeling (Minneapolis)(1936-38); Dr. E. Starr Judd residence (Rochester, MN)(1929); and several other private residences.

 Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Ellerbe, Franklin Ellerbe, Thomas Farr, 1892- Round, Olin Ellerbe Architects, Inc.--Archives Ellerbe & Company--Archives Mayo Clinic Medical centers--Minnesota--Rochester--Designs and plans Detailed Contents

The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection.

Mayo Clinc Building drawings Mayo Clinic - 1

[not specified] 1912-13

[Structural details]

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe and Round

blueprints

Mayo Clinic - 2

Foundation House 1939, 1941, 1946

Details

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, bluelines, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic - 3

[Original building?] 1928

Terra cotta and stone drawings

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Mayo Clinic - 4

[Original building? Foundation 1922-4, 1938, 1943

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink in linen, bluelines, brownlines [sepia?]

Mayo Clinic - 5

[Original building? Foundation 1927

Terra cotta details, project no. 112

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Mayo Clinic - 6

Original building 1924, 1930, 1939-41, 1949

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Associates

pencil on paper, bluelines

Mayo Clinic - 7

Original building; Dr. Plummer Residence 1923-24, 1928

Details

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

brownlines [sepia?]

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 1

Original building 1914

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, photostats, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 10

1928 building 1927-28

Project no. 112

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen, mylar, brownline

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 11

1928 building 1927-29

Project no. 112; millwork

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen, brownline [sepia?]

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 12

1928 building 1928-30

Project no. 112; millwork

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen, pencil on paper

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 13

1928 building 1928, 1930

Project no. 112; signal system

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 14

1928 building 1929-30

Project no. 112; millwork

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 15

1928 building 1929-30

Project no. 112; wiring

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink in linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 16

1928 building 1934-35, 1939-41

Remodelling

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 17

1928 building 1949-51, 1953

Remodelling

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 2

Original building 1928-29, 1937,1940-41

Remodelling of third floor

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 3

Original building 1913-15, 1917

Millwork

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 4

Original building 1919, 1928, 1945-47, 1950

Remodelling

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, photostats, ink on linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 5

Original building 1928-1930

Remodelling of second floor

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink in linen

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 6

Original building 1926, 1929,1937,1941

Remodelling of fourth floor

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

[not listed]

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 7

Original building 1946, 1952

Remodelling - various details

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper; brownlines? [sepia?]

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 8

Original building 1947-49

Remodelling - various details

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

blueprints, bluelines

Mayo Clinic Foundation - 9

[Original building?] 1929, 1938-41, 1948

Remodelling of fifth floor

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Mayo Foundation - 1

Homestead Development 1945-46

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, photostats, brownlines, bluelines, blueprints

Mayo Foundation - 2

Foundation House 1916, 1938, 1941, 1952

W.J.Mayo residence?

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, bluelines

Non-Mayo building drawings Aberdeen High School - 1

Auditorium and arena 1937

Aberdeen, SD

Ellerbe Architects

bluelines

Aitkin School

Addition and alteration 1938-39

Project no. 472

Aitkin, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Albrecht, Otto

Garage building 1936-37

Project no. 379

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Aluminum Corp. of America

Office layout in Northwestern Bank building 1937-38

Minneapolis, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Archdiocese of St. Paul

Chancery building 1939, 1957

alterations; project no. 479

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Askov School

Additions and alterations 1939

Project no. 492

Askov, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, blueprint

Ballard - 1

Garage 1928

[commercial auto garage]

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Ballard - 2

Garage 1953, 1955-56

[commercial auto garage] Remodelling

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Beta Theta Pi Society

[Fraternity house] 1927

University of Minnesota

[Minneapolis, MN]

Ellerbe Architects

Blackhawk Hotels

Sign 1951

Davenport, IA

Ellerbe Architects

Bosius

Residence n.d.

n.l.

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Bronstein, Edn. L.

Residence 1940

Air conditioning

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Butler, Emmett

Ore loading tunnel 1942

Study

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Calhoun Auto Courts

Auto court unit 1939-40

[Byron, owner?]

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Casper

Residence 1937

St. Croix Beach, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Chateau Dodge Theatre

Theater building 1927, 1929, 1941-42

Original and remodelling

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Clarkson, Worrell

Residence 1939

Remodelling

n.l.

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Co-op Oil Company of Olmsted County - 1

Service stations 1941

Project no. 615

Chatfield, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, bluelines, blueprints

Co-op Oil Company of Olmsted County - 2

Service stations 1941

Project no. 614

St. Charles, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, bluelines, blueprints

Crane Company

New entrance; Exhibit building 1936-37

Project no. 408

St. Paul, MN and Fargo, ND

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Crosby Ironton High School

Addition 1938-39

Project no. 456

Crosby, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Dakota Central Telephone Company - 1

1916, 1931

Mitchell, SD

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen, pencil on paper

Dakota Central Telephone Company - 2

1919

Mitchell, SD

Ellerbe Architects

Dakota Wesleyan University

Science Hall; Gymnasium and Power House 1911, 1918

Mitchell, SD

Ellerbe Architects

Deutsch, Mr. And Mrs. Clarence

Residence 1939-40

Project no. 498

Mahtomedi, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, blueline

Dingle Boat Works

Warehouse 1939, 1942

Project no. 512, 512A

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Dunlap Bowling Lanes

Mechancial plans 1940

Project no. 540

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Faribault Hotel

Additions and alterations 1928, 1935, 1937-38

formerly Harvey Hotel; project no.

Faribault, MN

Ellerbe Architects, Louis C. Pinault

blueprints, pencil on paper

Firestone Rubber Company

Service station 1929

Project no. 139

Austin, MN

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen

First National Bank - 1

Bank building 1912-13

Mankato, MN

Ellerbe and Round [?]

ink on linen

First National Bank - 2

Remodelling 1930

Mankato, MN

Ellerbe Architects

blueprints

First National Bank - 3

Air conditioning 1937, 1945

Project no. 661

Mankato, MN

Ellerbe Architects

blueprints, pencil on paper

First National Bank - 4

Alterations 1925, 1937, 1945

Mankato, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

First National Bank - Winnebago

Bank building 1916

Winnebago, MN

Ellerbe and Round?

ink on linen

Goodrich, Harold

Theater building 1935

Study for theater and store

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Hamline University

Swimming pool 1915

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects?

pencil on paper

Harwick, J. W.

Residence and cottage 1921-22, 1927-30, 1939, 1941, 1949

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Irvine, Thos.

Residence 1938, 1940-41

Project no. 416

Pine Tree Lake, Washington Cty, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Judd, Dr. E. Starr

Residence 1929-31

Project no. 252

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Knowlton

[Office building?] 1917-18

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Lake Owasso

Children's Preventorium 1935

Plot plan only

Lake Owasso, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Lakeside Hospital

Hospital building 1920

Rice Lake, MN

Ellerbe Architects?

ink on linen

Lewiston Sewage Disposal

Sewage treatment plan, sewer system 1937

Lewiston, MN

Ellerbe Architects, Druar and Milinowski

blueprints

Lillie, Dr. H. I

Residence 1921

Project no. 9

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen

Lohse, G. O.

Residence 1937

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Nicollet Hotel

Interior details 1936-38

Project no. 356, 355

Minneapolis, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

Nordic and King Cole Hotels

1929

Minneapolis, MN

Ellerbe Architects

photostats

Orwday, L. P.

Store building 1910

4th and Market; project no. C42

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects, Reed and Stem

pencil on paper, ink on linen

Pi Beta Phi Fraternity

Chapter House 1928

1109 5th Street SE

Minneapolis, MN

Ellerbe Architects

blueprints

Rivoli Theater

Store building 1926, 1928

721 Hennepin Ave; project no. 239

Minneapolis, MN

Ellerbe Architects

ink on linen, blueprints, specs

St. Luke's Church - 1

1924, 1931-32, 1937

Project no. 292, 293

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, blueprints, ink on linen

St. Luke's Church - 2

Parish house addition 1940

Project no. 558

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

St. Mary's Hospital - 1

Nurses home 1943-44

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen, bluelines, blueprints

St. Mary's Hospital - 2

Remodelling 1942

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

blueprints

St. Mary's Hospital - 3

Sisters Residence Library 1942

Book cases

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper

St. Paul City Hall and Courthouse - 1

1931-32

Floor plans; job 266

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

St. Paul City Hall and Courthouse - 2

1931, 1933

Floor plans, other; job 266

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

St. Paul City Hall and Courthouse - 3

1931-32

Details; job 266

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

St. Paul City Hall and Courthouse - 4

1930-32, 1934

Plaster and marble details

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

St. Paul City Hall and Courthouse - 5

1932

Furniture

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

blacklines

Sternberg Brothers

Hotel 1919

Rochester, MN

Ellerbe Architects

Store

Ninth and Wabasha Store Building 1931

Project no. 303

St. Paul, MN

Ellerbe Architects

pencil on paper, ink on linen