Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.
Requests for permission to quote from the James Ford Bell papers should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives head.
James Ford Bell papers, University of Minnesota Archives.
The collection contains clippings and correspondence regarding the building the Natural History Museum and its exhibits, memos detailing the rare books and items that should be housed in the Treasure Room at Walter Library, reports, photographs and a scrapbook of the dedication of the Museum of Natural History.
James Ford Bell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1879. His father, James S. Bell, was a miller and was hired to head the Washburn Crosby Company in Minneapolis in 1888. James Ford Bell graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1901 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and joined the Washburn Crosby Company that same year. In 1915, with the death of his father, he became vice president of the company. From 1916-1918, he was chairman of the milling division of the United States Food Administration under Herbert Hoover and from 1918-1919 he was named treasurer and general manager of the Sugar Equalization Board. He was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor by the French Government and was also made a member of the Belgian Order of the Crown for his contributions during World War I.
When he returned home, he resumed his duties at Washburn Crosby and in 1925 became president of the company. At that time he began a plan to consolidate the milling industry by merging several mills into one company, which was named General Mills. He was president of General Mills from its inception until 1934. Upon his retirement from president, he became Chairman of the Board until 1948. From 1948 to 1959, James Ford Bell served as a director of the Board and chairman of the Committee on Finance and Technological Progress at General Mills. He died on May 7, 1961 at the age of 81.
James Ford Bell was a great benefactor of the University of Minnesota to which he contributed a great deal of his time, monetary resources and possessions, believing that he could never repay the University for what it had given to him. He financed a major portion of the Minnesota Museum of Natural History, which opened in 1940, as well as the exhibits housed there. The museum was renamed the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History in 1966. In 1953 he donated his personal collection of rare books dealing with early trade and exploration to be housed in a Treasure Room called the James Ford Bell Room, located in Walter Library. The collection was later moved to Wilson Library and renamed the James Ford Bell Library. Upon his death he gave the remainder of his rare book collection to the University and established a trust fund consisting of $200,000 to maintain it. James Ford Bell also served as a University Regent from 1939-1960 and in 1961 received a Regents Award "in special recognition of the qualities of benefaction, fidelity and leadership."
Guy Stanton Ford papers
Henry Francis Nachtrieb papers
Fred Beal Snyder papers
University of Minnesota James Ford Bell Library collection
University of Minnesota Museum of Natural History papers
University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President, Business Administration papers
The
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.
Includes reports of the Minnesota Pacific Expedition; correspondence re funds given by James Ford Bell to support the expedition; Bulletin of the Pan-Pacific Union.
Correspondence with Thomas Sadler Roberts re museum displays; letter from Albert Jenks to James Ford Bell re a report to President Coffman on archaeological field research, 1933-1934; letters re obtaining funds to build the Museum of Natural History with W./P.W.A. funds, 1938; history of archaeological research at the University of Minnesota, report by Lloyd A. Wilford.
Articles of Incorporation; Statement of Purpose, "to undertake a program of research and education as to the relationship to the world economy of the United States of America;" list of members, 1937; J.F.B. acceptance to membership on the committee.
Correspondence with F.I. Washburn, Department of Agriculture, re financing a trip to Polynesia to collect insects for the Museum of Natural History, 1922; United States Society for the State of Minnesota, Statement of Purpose; report of Northwest Research Foundation for the Agricultural and Industrial Readjustment for the Region "formed to provide the necessary funds to carry on the researches as proposed by the Committee on Industrial and Economic Readjustment of the University of Minnesota," n.d.; correspondence re proposal made by President Coffman to the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. (AT&T) to market pictures (i.e. films) through the Northwest Research Foundation that were produced by AT&T for educational purposes; copy of talk by Frank B. Jewett, President of the Bell laboratories, "The Relation of Research to Business Success," at the Institute of Technology Dinner, Oct. 24, 1938, program; J.F. Bell speech entitled "The Future Status of Ownership and Management Functions in American Business," Feb. 27, 1942, given before University of Minnesota business students; letter to Dr. Coffey re naming of Coffey Hall, 1949.
Correspondence, memos re what should be housed in the Treasure Room; sketches; booklet, "Three Centuries of American History," re an exhibition held at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1944.
Speech by Dr. Bush at University of Minnesota Centennial, "The Natural Sciences of Man," April 20, 1951; letter from Bush to Bell re discovery of footprints in Nicaragua with photographs included, 1942.
Reports relating to the establishment of a cancer research program at the University, and describe past and proposed work, especially on breast cancer and viruses, of John J. Bittner, Maurice B. Visscher and Robert G. Green. It also describes work of John J. Wild with ultrasonics. James Ford Bell was a University regent during the time that discussions were held regarding establishment of the program and was appointed chairman of the Cancer Research Committee, by President Coffey. Folder also includes correspondence re funding for the program and appointment of Dr. John Bittner to head the program.
Includes correspondence re election of James Ford Bell to the Board of Regents, 1939; general correspondence; report entitled, "Casual Notes for the Meeting of the Joint Committee of Regents and Faculty on Relations with the Public," Dec. 6, 1940, which proposes a program of public relations at the University and which probably contributed to the eventual establishment of the Department of University Relations in 1945; letter re Spanish Institute at the University of Minnesota and petition for its continuance signed by local high school Spanish teachers, July 13, 1943; letter from J.M. Nolte re argument for continuance of the E.S.M.W.T. (Engineering, Science and Management War Training Program) at the University, March 14, 1945 and reply from J.F. Bell, March 28, 1945.
Includes correspondence with T. K. Russell, American Institute of Baking, re the Wheat Council, 1923; correspondence re rare books, 1925-1926; Statement of Bernard N. Baruch before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States Senate in Connection with the Proposed Revision of the Neutrality Legislation, April 6, 1939.
Contains group photos of Dr. Louis B. Wilson, Guy Stanton Ford, James F. Bell, Dr. Thomas Sadler Roberts, Fred B. Snyder and T.J. Fowler at the dedication; other dedication photos; news clippings re exhibits and museum dedication.
A scrapbook containing photos of the Charleston Room located at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, which was donated to the Institute by James Ford Bell in memory of his parents James S. and Sallie M. Bell, as well as a folder of correspondence in 1960 mostly of Mrs. Charles H. Bell (Lucy), regarding restoration of the Charleston Room, an inventory of items in the room and two bulletins about the room, were sent to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.