A Brief History of the James Ford Bell Library
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On October 30,1953, Minnesota industrialist James Ford Bell donated a collection of approximately 600 rare books to the University of Minnesota in a ceremony that formally dedicated the Library. An entry for January 1944 in Mr. Bell's diary records his indecision concerning the disposition of his book collection, however, by October 1948, negotiations for creating a library of Americana at the University were well underway.
The Bell Room, a period room carefully crafted using a combination of original architectural elements, reproductions, and period antiques, was the Library's first reading room. Today, it serves primarily as reception and exhibit space.