Photograph is taken at the present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. Dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen are dressed for the occasion are shown around the corner stone. Architect Electus D. Litchfield (1872-1952) stands in lower right corner holding straw hat.
This photograph is taken from approximately the present day corner of Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. The entire construction area is surrounded by a barricade. A delivery of lumber has a sign on it that reads: "Brooks Brothers Lumber." The second floor of the Minnesota Club is being worked on. The tower of the Cathedral of Saint Paul is visible behind the Minnesota Club. The Saint Paul Auditorium is to the right of the Minnesota Club. The twin spires of the Saint Louis Catholic Church can be seen behind the trees of Rice Park, which is on 4th Street.
The photograph is taken from present day Washington Street looking towards Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard. Building crews are constructing scaffolds and assembling cranes. To the right of the crane on the left side of the construction site is the beginning of the construction of the James J. Hill Reference Library. The James J. Hill Reference Library and the Central Library of the Saint Paul Public Library were constructed as one building, separated by a common wall.
This room was dedicated to Mr. Greenleaf Clark, and is on the third floor of the library. The ceiling panels show the decorative patterns that will eventually be painted.
The finished decoration of the Greenleaf Clark Room, which was also known as the General Reference room, of the Central Library of the Saint Paul Public Library. The panels on the ceiling have been painted, and the chandeliers hung. Today this is known as the Magazine Room.
Photograph is taken from present day corners of 4th and Washington Streets, looking towards Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street. The entrance to the construction site is off of Kellogg Boulevard. The construction shacks of the Thomas J. Steen company are by that entrance. The construction barricade provides advertisement for North Western Fuel Company's Scranton Coal. Construction for the building cranes has begun.
This photograph is taken from Washington Street looking towards the corners of Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard. A scaffold and building crane are now on site. Some areas of the foundation are being enclosed.
Photograph is taken from approximately present day corners of Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. The photograph shows the foundation of the construction site almost completed. The building being constructed in the background is the Minnesota Club. In the far background of the construction is the Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Photograph is taken from the present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. Landscaping is completed. The flag is flying from the third floor of the library. The identities of the people standing in front of the library are not known.
This photograph was taken from what is now Market Street between 4th and 5th Streets. Smoke is coming from the chimney of the James J. Hill Reference Library, indicating that the heating system is now working. Work is still being done on the main entrance to that library. A crane is still in front of the Saint Paul Public Library. An advertisement on the barricade reads "Say Gordon When You Say Hat."
The photograph is taken from the staircase on the 4th Street side of the library. The oval decorative motif depicts the coat of arms of the library, a theme that is repeated within the library building.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street. Construction of the third floor begins. Scaffolding for the power lift and cranes has be raised in height. Interior scaffolds can be seen within the area of the second floor.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. The second floor is now enclosed and work begins on the third floor. The common wall between the Saint Paul Public Library and the James J. Hill Reference Library is visible. In the upper left portion of the photograph, workers on the fourth floor of the James J. Hill Reference Library.
Photograph is taken from present day 4th Street. Work begins on the first floor of the library. Foundation work for the library staircase is beginning.
Photograph taken from present day Market Street, looking towards the corners of Washington and 4th Street. The scaffolding is completed and the cranes are in place. Lumber, bricks, sand and other aggregate needed for mixing concrete are now on site.
Photograph is taken from the present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. Building materials are now in abundance as construction moves ahead. In this photograph the cranes are now rigged with their cables. The scaffold on the right side of the photograph shows what may be hand holds permitting the crane operator to climb into the operating cab.
Photograph is taken from the present day corners of Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street, looking towards Washington Street. Construction workers and supervisors are on site. To their left is a portable steam engine on a sledge, known as a "donkey engine." Building materials on site include a shipment of bricks. Wood and metal framings are in place for work on the first floor of the library. Scaffolds are now enclosed inside the building walls of the second floor.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street. Work continues on the second floor, exterior walls continue to take shape. Near the center of the photo, a portable steam engine, or "donkey engine" appears to have steam coming out of its tall chimney.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street. The wood frames for the arched windows can be seen in detail. Scaffolding is increasing in height to match construction of walls.