uarc00165 Cass Gilbert Collection, 1909-1910 Greta Bahnemann University of Minnesota Libraries October 2003

University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455

EAD encoding by Karen Spilman March 2005 Finding aid written in English University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc] Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934. Cass Gilbert collection 1909-1910 4 drawers The collection consists of a series of architectural plans that Cass Gilbert drew for the future development of the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus, plus a campus extension report. uarc 165 Collection materials in English Administrative Information Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.

Preferred citation

Cass Gilbert collection, University Archives, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into three series: Drawings With a Cass Gilbert Plan Number, Drawings Without a Cass Gilbert Plan Number, and Reports.

Scope and Content

In 1909-1910 Cass Gilbert entered a contest at the University of Minnesota to select a plan for the buildings and grounds of the Minneapolis campus. The collection includes plans, drawings, blueprints, brown lines and negatives. Included with the collection are two studies by James H. Forsythe (University of Minnesota Advisory Architect). The studies by Forsythe include a sketch of the entire campus corresponding to Gilbert's plan and an architectural rendering of the campanile.

Biographical Sketch of Cass Gilbert (1859-1934)

Cass Gilbert was born in Zanesville, Ohio in 1859 and moved with his family to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1867. He briefly attended a St. Paul preparatory school (which later became Macalester College). In September of 1876, Gilbert quit school and became a draftsman’s apprentice with St. Paul architect Abraham Radcliffe. One of Gilbert’s closest friends, Clarence Johnston was already working in Radcliffe’s modest practice. In the fall of 1878 both Gilbert and Johnston traveled to Boston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where they studied architecture under William Robert Ware. Johnston soon ran short of funds and returned to St. Paul to continue his apprenticeship, but Gilbert continued his studies at M.I.T. until late 1879. On January 3, 1880 Gilbert sailed for Europe and his own version of the Grand Tour.

After returning from Europe in the fall of 1880, Gilbert joined the New York firm of McKim, Mead and White. Gilbert worked for the firm as Stanford White’s assistant. In 1882 Gilbert left New York and returned to St. Paul where he opened an office with James Knox Taylor. Although their early years in St. Paul were a struggle, the partners eventually landed important commissions such as the Endicott Building in downtown St. Paul (1888) and the Portland Terrace Apartments (1888).

The Gilbert and Taylor partnership lasted until 1893, when Taylor moved to Philadelphia. After Taylor's departure, Gilbert completed the commission for the Minnesota State Capitol (1895-1905) and several Northern Pacific depots. In 1900, Gilbert abandoned his Minnesota office and moved to New York City where his career was rapidly expanding. He executed plans for the University of Minnesota (1909-1910), New York City’s Woolworth Building (1911-1913), the Federal Reserve Bank building in Minneapolis (1923-1925), the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and many other notable buildings.

Related Materials at the University of Minnesota

Two of the oversized original drawings are in the Cass Gilbert collection, Northwest Architectural Archives, Manuscripts Division, University of Minnesota.

University of Minnesota. Board of Regents. Conditions of a competition for the selection of a general plan for laying out the grounds and locating the buildings on the campus of the University of Minnesota, circa 1908.

Other Related Materials

Cass Gilbert papers. Minnesota Historical Society. Division of Library and Archives

Cass Gilbert collection. New-York Historical Society. Print Room

Cass Gilbert papers. Montana Historical Society. Library and Archives Department

Cass Gilbert collection. Smithsonian Institution. National Museum of American History, Archives Center

Cass Gilbert papers. Mattatuck Historical Society. Mattatuck Museum

Cass Gilbert papers. Library of Congress. Manuscript Division

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.

Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934 -- Archives. University of Minnesota -- Planning. Architecture. Campus planning -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis. Detailed Contents

The collection is organized around Gilbert’s plan numbers and whenever possible the University Archives Number corresponds to the Gilbert plan number. The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection.

Drawings With a Cass Gilbert Plan Number. Plan 1. Photograph of the original drawing in its entirety. Plan shows a bird’s eye view of the campus and a cross section of the campus’ grades and elevations tracing from Northrop Auditorium to the Mississippi River.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.1.1

DIMENSIONS: 8 x 10 inches

Plan 1. Cropped Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed). Cropped photograph shows only the campus plan and not the cross section view of the campus elevations.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.1.2

DIMENSIONS: 11 x 8 ½ inches

NEGATIVE: 1

Plan 1. Cropped original drawing on brown architect’s paper showing the cross section view of the campus elevations. Original drawing was cut in half (there is no knowledge of the whereabouts of the lower portion of the original).

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.1.3

CONDITION NOTE: Recommended for conservation in October 2003.

DIMENSIONS: 11 x 36 inches

Plan 1. Cropped photograph of original drawings. The location of the Engineering Buildings on noted on the surface in black ink. Note: this is the only copy of Plan 1 that is legible enough to show the names of the buildings.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.1.4

DIMENSIONS: 17 ¼ x 12 ½ inches

Plan 2. View from the South. Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed). Plan shows the Mississippi River and the proposed Northrop Auditorium with a gabled roof.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.2.1

DIMENSIONS: 5 ¼ x 14 ¼ inches

NEGATIVE: 3

Plan 2. View from the South - STUDY. Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed). Plan shows the Mississippi River and the proposed Northrop Auditorium with a dome roof.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.2.2

DIMENSIONS: 5 ¼ x 14 ¼ inches

NEGATIVE: 4

Plan 2. View from the South. Photograph of the oversized original color rendering. Original is currently housed with the Northwest Architectural Archives, Manuscripts Division.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.2.3

DIMENSIONS: 10 x 8 inches

NEGATIVE: 1

Plan 4. Plan of Sewer and Water Mains and Heating and Power Tunnels. Photograph of the original plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.4.1

DIMENSIONS: 8 ¾ x 6 ½ inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. Original Blueprint backed with linen. Framed.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.1

CONDITION NOTE: Conserved and framed by Upper Midwest Conservation Association.

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. ORIGINAL. Unframed Original ink and gouache on paper backed with linen.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.0

CONDITION NOTE: Conserved by Midwest Art Conservation Center in January 2007.

DIMENSIONS: 44 x 32 inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. ORIGINAL. Unframed Original blueprint backed with linen.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.1

CONDITION NOTE: Vertical tear in center from top to bottom, hole on the left-center, missing pieces from all 4 corners.

DIMENSIONS: 44 x 32 inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. Photograph of the original plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.2

DIMENSIONS: 23 x 17 inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. Photograph of the original plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.3

DIMENSIONS: 8 x 10 inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. Photocopy of the original plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.4

CONDITION NOTE: Missing piece from upper left corner.

DIMENSIONS: 9 ¼ x 7 inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. Photocopy of the original plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.5

CONDITION NOTE: Missing pieces from all 4 corners.

DIMENSIONS: 9 ¼ x 7 inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. ORIGINAL. Unframed Original blueprint backed with linen.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.6

CONDITION NOTE: Small tears on upper and lower edges, pin holes in the 4 corners, old repair made on left edge-blueprint has been re-attached to linen.

DIMENSIONS: 33 ¼ x 24 ¼ inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. DUPLICATE. Unframed Duplicate blueprint backed with linen.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.7

CONDITION NOTE: Slight cracks running in the center both vertically and horizontally, some repair made with tape.

DIMENSIONS: 33 ¼ x 24 ¼ inches

Plan 5. Plan Showing Terraces and Grades. DUPLICATE. Unframed Duplicate blueprint on paper.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.5.8

CONDITION NOTE: Several small tears repaired with tape.

DIMENSIONS: 33 ¼ x 24 ¼ inches

Plan 6. Study. Original hand-colored plan labeled Study. Aerial view showing plan for Northrop Auditorium with domed roof, the Mall and the Mississippi River.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.6.1

CONDITION NOTE: Conserved and framed by Upper Midwest Conservation Association.

DIMENSIONS: 42 ½ x 25 inches (framed dimensions)

NEGATIVE: 1

Plan 6. Study. Aerial view showing Study for Northrop Auditorium with a domed roof, the Mall and the Mississippi River. Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed).

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.6.2

DIMENSIONS: 14 x 8 inches

Plan 6. Aerial view showing plan for Northrop Auditorium with a gabled roof, the Mall and the Mississippi River. Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed).

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.6.3

DIMENSIONS: 14 x 9 ½ inches

Plan 6. Second generation photograph of 165.6.3.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.6.4

DIMENSIONS: 14 x 9 ½ inches

Plan 7. Medical Group. Original hand-colored plan executed in watercolor and pencil backed with linen.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.7.1

CONDITION NOTE: Recommended for conservation in October 2003.

DIMENSIONS: 29 ¼ x 18 ½ inches

NEGATIVE: 2

Plan 7. Medical Group. Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed).

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.7.2

DIMENSIONS: 14 ½ x 8 ½ inches

Plan 7. Medical Group. Photograph copy of 165.7.2.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.7.3

DIMENSIONS: 8 x 10 inches

Plan 8. View on Washington Avenue. Original hand-colored plan executed in watercolor, pencil, pen and ink.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.8.1

CONDITION NOTE: Conserved, matted and wrapped by Upper Midwest Conservation Association.

DIMENSIONS: 35 ½ x 23 ½ inches (matted dimension)

NEGATIVE: 1

Plan 8. View on Washington Avenue. Cass Gilbert presentation photograph (original plan photographed by Gilbert’s office, mounted on gray artboard and signed).

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.8.2

DIMENSIONS: 14 ¼ x 8 ¼ inches

Plan 8. View on Washington Avenue. Photograph of 165.8.2.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.8.3

DIMENSIONS: 10 x 8 inches

Plan 8. View on Washington Avenue. Photograph of 165.8.2.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.8.4

CONDITION NOTE: Missing piece from lower left corner.

DIMENSIONS: 8 ¼ x 5 inches

Drawings Without a Cass Gilbert Plan Number. Unmarked Plan. The New Campus University of Minnesota. A General View Showing Ultimate Development. Sketch is hand-colored and is mounted on a board.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.A.1

CONDITION NOTE: Sketch is mounted to an acidic support that has heavily bowed over time. Sketch is exceedingly dirty. Recommended for conservation in October 2003.

DIMENSIONS: 32 x 24 inches

Unmarked Plan. The Campanile and Greek Gardens. Pencil sketch for plans for a campanile or bell tower near the Mississippi River [never completed].

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.B.1

CONDITION NOTE: Conserved and framed by Upper Midwest Conservation Association.

DIMENSIONS: 26 ¼ x 37 ½ inches (framed)

Unmarked Plan. The Cass Gilbert Plan (version 1). Brown line or Van Dyke of campus Northrop Auditorium with a domed roof, the campanile and the Greek Gardens. Mall buildings are connected to each other but are not connected into Northrop Auditorium. Building names are not identified this plan but are identified on the reprint 165.C.2

Note: this plan is very similar to Plan D but Plan D shows Mall buildings as connected into the Auditorium. The campanile is also slightly different in each plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.C.1

CONDITION NOTE: Plan has some small losses to the upper left and lower right corners and the left edge. Paper is very brittle and plan shows breaks on the paper’s surface and small tears. Acid migration is evident on the paper’s surface.

DIMENSIONS: 26 ½ x 21 ¼ inches

Unmarked Plan. As we will see the University of Minnesota Fifty Years Hence - The Cass Gilbert Plan. Commercial print made from the original Brown Line (165.C.1). The print notes building names, street names, etc. and states:

The Cass Gilbert Plan not only provides for a complete scheme of building to take care of our needs for many years, but goes into landscape gardening; the campanile and the Greek Gardens are at the lower end.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.C.2

CONDITION NOTE: Tape is adhered to the front of the plan from the encapsulation process-plan was not positioned correctly.

DIMENSIONS: 15 x 11 inches

Unmarked Plan. As we will see the University of Minnesota Fifty Years Hence - The Cass Gilbert Plan. Photographic copy made of 165.C.2.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.C.3

CONDITION NOTE: Pin pricks in the four corners.

DIMENSIONS: 13 ½ x 8 ¾ inches

Unmarked Plan. As we will see the University of Minnesota Fifty Years Hence - The Cass Gilbert Plan. Smaller photographic copy made of 165.C.2 in which the original brown line has been hand-colored with an ink wash to highlight Northrop Auditorium, Memorial Stadium, the Mall and the Campanile.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.C.4

DIMENSIONS: 9 ½ x 7 inches

Unmarked Plan. As we will see the University of Minnesota Fifty Years Hence - The Cass Gilbert Plan. DUPLICATE of 165.C.4.

For use as University Archives Reference Print.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.C.5

DIMENSIONS: 9 ½ x 7 inches

Unmarked Plan. The Cass Gilbert Plan (version 2). Brown line or Van Dyke of campus shows Northrop Auditorium with a domed roof, the campanile and the Greek Gardens. Mall buildings are connected to each other and connected into Northrop Auditorium. Note: this plan is very similar to Plan C but Plan C shows Mall buildings as not connected to the Auditorium. The campanile is also slightly different in each plan.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.D.1

DIMENSIONS: 31 ½ x 6 ½ inches

Unmarked Plan. Section on Main Axis. Blueprint showing cross section of buildings from Northrop Auditorium (shown with a domed roof) running to the Mississippi River. Plan shows grades and elevations and is dated November 10, 1919. Blueprint has been cropped from its original size. Note: This plan was probably not executed by Gilbert’s office but was rather based on Gilbert’s idea.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.E.1

DIMENSIONS: 31 ½ x 6 ½ inches

Unmarked Plan. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Blueprint showing numbered blocks of undeveloped blocks land surrounding the University of Minnesota East Bank campus.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NUMBER: 165.F.1

CONDITION NOTE: Conserved and framed by the Upper Midwest Conservation Association.

DIMENSIONS: 35 x 30 inches

Reports. Campus Extension Report: Supplement of the 1908 Regent's Annual Report, 1909.