COLLECTION INFORMATION FORM
PRELIM 1. Catalog No. S2209
X FINAL 2. Accession No. 2201, 2213, 2218, 2323, 2355, 2386, 3020, 3791
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA HISTORICAL CENTER
3. COLLECTION TITLE: Board of Trade of Duluth Collection
and
INCLUSIVE DATES: 1881-1972
4. DONOR (name & address): H. Watson Wilson, 5003 Glendale St., Duluth, MN; Daniel Mundt, 700 Torrey Building, Duluth, MN; Robert Ronigen, 816 1st National Bank Building, Duluth, MN, Board of Trade of Duluth, Duluth, MN; Mr. Tom Chevalier, Benson & Quinn, 503 Board of Trade, Duluth, MN
5. Date Received: 1972, 1977, 1978, 1983
6. Restrictions: none
7. No. of Boxes: 29
8. No. of Vol. (in boxes):
9. Linear Inches or Feet: 36.25
10. No. of Vol. (outside boxes): 26
11. Number of Items (Small Collection):
12. Donor Agreement Form Signed (date): 1977-1978, 1983
ABSTRACT SUMMARY OF COLLECTION
The collection contains miscellaneous information about the functioning of the Board of Trade of Duluth. The Board was a communication and trading facility which was formed to bring into operation better methods for dealing with the shipping and marketing of wheat sent to Duluth.
The collection contains minutes; architectural drawings, specifications and related correspondence; membership ledgers; information on various court cases and actions of the Board of Arbitration; printed annual reports, financial journals and ledgers, 1900-1958; stock certificates; clearing association certificates, Red Cross Pledge Book; general rules, by-laws, and Articles of Incorporation, 1885-1958; Duluth Daily Market Report, 1888-1900; and ledgers concerning "shipments of grains by cargoes from Duluth; Membership cards and certificates.
For additional information see: S2210 Oral History Interview with H. Watson Wilson, Jr. and Inventory.
Board of Trade of Duluth Collection 1894 1972
The Board of Trade of Duluth Collection represents a miscellaneous
collection of information about the functioning of the Board of Trade of
Duluth from the time it moved into the Board of Trade Building at Third Avenue West and First Street in 1894 to the dissolution of the company in
1972. The Board of Trade was a communication and trading facility that
figured in the grain trade of the Northwest. It was formed to bring into operation better methods of dealing with the wheat sent to Duluth for
marketing or shipment.
The collection includes miscellaneous information on membership correspondence and legal notices covering a wide variety of topics; court cases directly affecting the activities of the Board of Trade of Duluth; information on the burning of the Board of Trade of Duluth's building and its subsequent reconstruction in 1894; a complete set of minute books; and the findings of the Board of Arbitration.
In addition to this material which was donated by H. Watson Wilson, Jr., the collection also includes a minute book 1966 1972 which was loaned to the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center by Daniel H. Mundt, and a collection of Board of Trade Building Blueprints, Architect's Renderings, and Contractors correspondence 1894 1948, which were loaned by Robert N. Roningen.
The Board of Trade of Duluth Collection, boxes 1 6 and oversize volume number one were donated to the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center on February 21, 1977. The minute book found in volume 6 5 was loaned by Daniel H. Mundt on April 18, 1977. Also loaned were the Board of Trade Building Blueprints. These were loaned by Robert N. Roningen on May 9, 1977 and can be found in boxes 3 through 22.
There is a question if designer/sculptor Cass Gilbert had connections to the Duluth Board of Trade buildings.
The Duluth Board of Trade built two buildings and both experienced fire. I am not aware of a Cass Gilbert link to the buildings. The newspapers from the mid 1880s, when an announcement inviting bids or a competition would have been announced, are on microfilm, but I do not have those films at hand in this archives. I looked in the Board of Trade records held in this archives and find nothing on the process to select a design or architect, just that the membership fees were increased to raise funds to initiate the building project and the dedication program.
The first was built at 300 West Superior Street. It was dedicated January 6, 1886. The cornice had a carved 1885 featured on it. It was designed by the architectural team Wirth and Traphagen: George Wirth and Oliver G. Traphagen. It burned in 1894.
Note that a Mr. E. A. Gilbert was listed on the dedication program with W. T. Hooker and R. S. Munger as part of the Music and Banquet Committee.
That January 6 dedication program names only George Wirth as architect, omitting Oliver G. Traphagen's name.
The second building still stands at 301 West First Street. It was designed and built by the architectural team Traphagen &Fitzpatrick: Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis Fitzpatrick. It was built in 1984-1895. This was their last large commission as their partnership was dissolved
January 1, 1896, according to James Allen Scott. [ He was the researcher for the book project titled Duluth's Legacy Vol. 1 Architecture, Duluth City Planning Dept., 1974. There were no subsequent volumes produced.] It burned June 4, 1948 but was again occupied by the Board of Trade until the Board disband in 1972. It has been and is still occupied by other tenants. [June 2004, PKM]
Inventory
Box One
Folder 1 1 Ratification of By laws 1908
Folder 1 2 Articles of Incorporation and By laws 1902, 1960,
1908, 1920, 1922
Folder 1 3 Articles of Incorporation and By laws 1924, 1926,
1930, 1933
Folder 1 4 Membership (miscellaneous information) 1894 1939
(see also correspondence files)
Folder 1 5 Membership (miscellaneous information) 1940 1970
(see also correspondence files)
Folder 1 6 Farmers' Union Grain Terminal re: Membership 1927 1928
Folder 1 7 Farmers' Union Grain Terminal re: Membership 1928 1938
Folder 1 8 Average Value of Memberships (computed for purposes of
Government Brokerage License) 1919 1925
Folder 1 9 Correspondence and Legal Notices (incomplete) 1885 1905
Folder 1 10 Correspondence and Legal Notices (incomplete) 1906 1918
Folder 1 11 Correspondence and Legal Notices (incomplete) 1919 1925
Folder 1 12 Correspondence and Legal Notices (incomplete) 1925 1946
Folder 1 13 Gregory Cook & Co. vs. Wisconsin Grain Warehouse Commission
1906
Folder 1 14 Interstate Commerce Commission vs. Board of Trade of
Duluth 1906
Folder 1 15 State of Minnesota vs. Board of Trade of Duluth 1906
Folder 1 16 State of Minnesota vs. Board of Trade of Duluth: Trial
Brief for Defendants (undated) and Respondents' Brief
1908
Folder 1 17 State of Minnesota vs. Board of Trade of Duluth in: Northwestern Reporter (Annotated), p. 395 1909.
Folder 1 18 Joint Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives Investigation of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Duluth 1907
Folder 1 19 Stewart Dalrymple vs. Board of Trade of Duluth
1936 1943
Box Two
Folder 2 1 Miscellaneous Statistical Statements re: Values of
Grain 1894 1947
Folder 2 2 Miscellaneous Income Tax Statements 1912 1949
Folder 2 3 Annual Dinner 1955
Folder 2 4 Documents re: Appraisal of Damage Burning of Board of
Trade Building 1894
Folder 2 5 Documents re: Completion of New Building 1894
Folder 2 6 Building Maintenance 1896 1905 & 1933
Folder 2 7 Photograph Board of Trade Building ca. 1948
Folder 2 8 Information re: YMCA and Elks Building 1906 1917
Folder 2 9 Board of Trade of Duluth: Sampling Bureau; Miscellaneous Correspondence and Rulings 1919 1939 (see also correspondence files)
Folder 2 10 Board of Arbitration: Kosmack & Co. vs. McCabe Bros. 1901
Folder 2 11 Turtle & Co. Prosecution 1907
Folder 2 12 Board of Arbitration: Van Drusen Harrington Co. vs.
K. A. Scott & Co. 1923
Folder 2 13 Board of Arbitration: Sherwin Williams Co. vs. Occidental
Terminal Co. 1926
Folder 2 14 Board of Arbitration: Spencer Kellogg & Sons, Inc. vs.
James Ogle 1928
Folder 2 15 Board of Arbitration: Van Dusen Harrington Co. vs.
James Ogle 1928
Folder 2 16 Board of Arbitration: John Heyerholm vs. McCabe Bros. 1929
Folder 2 17 Board of Arbitration: Harbison Grain Co. vs. Walter Stenger 1937
Folder 2 18 Board of Arbitration: S. Guthrie vs. Continental Export Co. 1937 1938
Folder 2 19 Board of Arbitration: Hixon Cannon Co. vs. ArcherDaniels Midland Co. 1944
Folder 2 20 Board of Arbitration: Alastair Cuthrie vs. SpencerKellogg & Sons, Inc. 1951
Folder 2 21 Board of Arbitration: Wilbur Joyce vs. Theodore Svenson 1954
Folder 2 22 Board of Arbitration: Alastair Guthrie vs. Gordon A. Noyes 1960
Folder 2 23 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Yearly Statements and Auditor's Reports (incomplete) 1904 1945
Folder 2 24 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Miscellaneous Financial Records ca. 1920
Folder 2 25 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Miscellaneous Correspondence 1910 1918
Folder 2 26 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Miscellaneous Correspondence 1920 1933
Folder 2 27 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Miscellaneous Correspondence 1934 1945
Folder 2 28 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Miscellaneous Legal Documents 1930 1940
Folder 2 29 Board of Trade Clearing Association: Atwood Larson Co. vs. American Linseed Co. & Board of Trade Clearing Association 1912
Folder 2 30 Duluth Grain Commission Merchants' Association Statements ca. 1921, 1943
Volume 2 31 Transcript Minnesota House of Representatives Examination of Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Duluth, 1913.
Volume 2 32 Building Additions Account Ledger 1908.
Volume 2 33 Building Additions Account Journal 1908.
Folder 2 33a Building Additions Report, 1 9 1909.
Volume 2 34 Duluth Grain Merchants' Association Account 1910 1917.
Volume 2 35 Duluth Grain Merchants' Association Correspondence, 1911-1917.
Box Three
Volume 3 1 Statement on the Duluth Grain Market undated and unsigned.
Volume 3 2 Record 1881.
Volume 3 3 Membership Roll 1949.
Volume 3 4 Membership Roll 1956.
Volume 3 5 Membership Roll undated.
Volume 3 6 Correspondence 1894 1896.
Volume 3 7 Correspondence 1904 1907.
Volume 3 8 Correspondence 1907 1911.
Box Four
Volume 4 1 Specifications for Plumbing, Sewers and Gas Fittings for
Additions and Alternations to the Board of Trade Building
at Duluth, Minnesota. D. H. Burnham & Co., Architects
1908. Board of Trade of Duluth Building Journal 1894 1897.
Volume 4 2 Trail Balance Book 1911 1920.
Volume 4 3 Ledger 1894 1897.
Volume 4 4 Journal 1894 1897.
Volume 4 5 Findings of the Duluth Board of Arbitration 1907 1954.
(see also minute books)
Box Five
Volume 5 1 Transaction Book 1881 1884
Volume 5 2 Minute Book 1894 1896
Volume 5 3 Minute Book 1897 1907
Volume 5 4 Minute Book 1907 1917
Volume 5 5 Minute Book 1917 1928
Box Six
Volume 6 1 Minute Book 1928 1941
Volume 6 2 Minute Book 1941 1947
Volume 6 3 Minute Book 1947 1956
Volume 6 4 Minute Book 1956 1966
Volume 6 5 Minute Book 1966 1972
Oversize Volume
Number One Membership Register 1885 1907
Map Case 7 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick I, blueprints
Map Case 8 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick II, blueprints
Map Case 9 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick 1894, blueprints
Map Case 10 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick 1894, blueprints
Map Case 11 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick 1894, blueprints
Map Case 12 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick 1894, blueprints
Map Case 13 Traphagen and Fitzpatrick 1894, blueprints
Map Case 14 Daniel J. Burnham 1908, blueprints
Map Case 15 Daniel J. Burnham 1908, blueprints
Map Case 16 Daniel J. Burnham 1908, blueprints
Map Case 17 Daniel J. Burnham 1908, blueprints
Map Case 18 Daniel J. Burnham 1908, blueprints
Map Case 19 Graham Anderson Probst & White 1929, blueprints
Map Case 20 Thomas J. Shefchik 1948, blueprints
Map Case 21 Miscellaneous (unidentified) blueprints
BOX 22 1894 1909
Folder 22 1 Construction Specifications, Traphagen and Fitzpatrick, Architects, March 13, 1894
Folder 22 2 Tabulation of bids, D. H. Burnham and Company, ca. 1909
Folder 22 3 Specifications for additions and altercations for carpentry, electrical wiring and switchboard, engines, erection of steel, fire escapes, generators, glass and glazing, hardware, lighting fixtures, marble work, and masonry, D. H. Burnham and Company, December 9, 1907 - December 27, 1907.
Folder 22 4 Specifications for additions and alterations for ornamental iron; painting; plastering; plumbing, sewers, and gas fittings; roofing and sheet metal; steam fitting, steam heating, and ventilation; structural steel and terra cotta; D. H. Burnham and Company, January 2, 1907-January 10, 1908
Folder 22 5 Incoming correspondence, August 16, 1907
February 29, 1908
Folder 22 6 Incoming correspondence, March 4, 1908 April 10, 1908
Folder 22 7 Incoming correspondence, April 13, 1908 April 30, 1908
Folder 22 8 Incoming correspondence, May 1, 1908 September 8, 1908
Folder 22 9 Contracts, February 5, 1908 April 23, 1908
BOX 23
Stock Certificates, 1881 1923
BOX 24
Stock Certificates, 1933 1972 Clearing Association Certificates, 1895 1906 Ledgers, 1900 1911, 1921 1941 Visitor Register Red Cross Pledge Book
BOX 25
Printed Annual Reports, 1882 1971
BOX 26
General Rules and By laws & Articles of Incorporation, 1885, 1896, 1902, 1906, 1908, 1916, 1920, 1922, 1926, 1930, 1933, Articles of Incorporation & General Rules and Bylaws, 1958
Duluth Daily Market Report, 1888 1894.
BOX 27
Duluth Daily Market Report, 1894 1900.
Duluth Daily Commercial Record. June 10, 1949.
BOX 28
Membership record cards: certificate #5 1969 for the years, 1881 1969.
BOX 29
Membership certificates: #1572 #1994 for the years, 1936 1972.
Oversized Volumes:
No. 2: Cash Journal, 1907 1910 No. 20: Ledger, 1913 1943
No. 3: Cash Journal, 1910 1913
No. 4: Cash Journal, 1914 1916
No. 5: Cash Journal, 1916 1919
No. 6: Cash Journal, 1919 1921
No. 7: Cash Journal, 1921 1923
No. 8: Cash Journal, 1924 1926
No. 9: Cash Journal, 1926 1928
No. 10: Cash Journal, 1918 1930
No .11: Cash Journal, 1931 1933
No. 12: Cash Journal, 1933 1936
No. 13: Cash Journal, 1936 1939
No. 14: Cash Journal, 1939 1941
No. 15: Cash Journal, 1942 1944
No. 16: Cash Journal, 1944 1948
No. 17: Cash Journal, 1948 1951
No. 18: Cash Journal, 1952 1955
No .19: Cash Journal, 1955 1958
"shipments of grain by cargoes from Duluth" ledgers.
vol. 21 1925 1928
vol. 22 1929 1934
vol. 23 1935 1940
vol. 24 1941 1946
vol. 25 1947 1953
vol. 26 1954 1959