City of Fargo Planning Department Photograph Collection
File
Identifier: Photo 2119
Scope and Content
The City of Fargo Planning Department Photograph Collection is comprised of photographic prints, slides, and 35mm negatives. The photograph prints have been broken down into five series; the Downtown District Series, the Urban Renewal Series, Aerials Series, Residential Series, and Topical Series.. The photographic prints are followed by the Slide Series, and they are followed by the Negative Series.
The Downtown District series has been arranged by avenues and streets located in Fargo’s downtown district. The views represented in this series consist of streetscapes, buildings, and businesses. They are organized first with north avenues, starting at Northern Pacific Avenue, and moving sequentially northward. This is followed by the north streets, starting with 4th Street and moving sequentially westward. The south side is represented by Main Avenue, and 8th Street S. In some cases, there are significant photographic representations for several buildings within this series, such as the Powers Hotel, or the de Lendrecie/Block 6 buildings. In these instances, those buildings are broken down into their own folders, but organized to fall under the street for which they exist.
The Urban Renewal Series are all black and white photographs taken by Everett Brust for appraisal and planning of property for the Main Avenue Urban Renewal project. The images were taken between 1961 and 1964, and show views of the Urban Renewal area before and during the project. These include street views, models, and aerials over the project area. Some of the images are contact sheets of 120mm negatives, that are not part of the collection.
The majority of the Aerials Series appear to be from a study of the commercial corridors long the western side of the city. The photographs are not dated, but were likely taken in 1974, based upon the evidence of building construction project visible in the images. The photograph are all numbered on the back from 1-84, and they have been arranged under that order. The order seems to follow a flight path that first leads from 25th Street S., to a general encompassing views over the subject area. This is followed by views over the south side of Main Avenue between 45th Street and 28th Street. Then the north side of Main Avenue, between 34th Street and 45th Street. Then the views follow along the west side of I-29, showing the west side between Main Avenue and 18th Avenue S. Then the views follow the east side of I-29, between 13th Avenue S. and Main Avenue. The final views are over West Acres Shopping Center, and new development along 13th Avenue S.
The Residential Series feature houses and street views from throughout the city. They organized similar to the Downtown District Series, first north side avenues and streets, followed by south side avenues and streets. The Topical Series is arranged alphabetically by subject. It features a broad range of images taken for various City of Fargo projects.
The Slide Series is made up 1,802 color slides. They are arranged alphabetically by their general subject matter.
The Negative Series contains 35mm black and white and color negative. They are arranged alphabetically by their general subject matter and related to many of the photos found thought the collection. The last folder in this series contains negative contact sheets for many of the black and white photos in this series.
The Downtown District series has been arranged by avenues and streets located in Fargo’s downtown district. The views represented in this series consist of streetscapes, buildings, and businesses. They are organized first with north avenues, starting at Northern Pacific Avenue, and moving sequentially northward. This is followed by the north streets, starting with 4th Street and moving sequentially westward. The south side is represented by Main Avenue, and 8th Street S. In some cases, there are significant photographic representations for several buildings within this series, such as the Powers Hotel, or the de Lendrecie/Block 6 buildings. In these instances, those buildings are broken down into their own folders, but organized to fall under the street for which they exist.
The Urban Renewal Series are all black and white photographs taken by Everett Brust for appraisal and planning of property for the Main Avenue Urban Renewal project. The images were taken between 1961 and 1964, and show views of the Urban Renewal area before and during the project. These include street views, models, and aerials over the project area. Some of the images are contact sheets of 120mm negatives, that are not part of the collection.
The majority of the Aerials Series appear to be from a study of the commercial corridors long the western side of the city. The photographs are not dated, but were likely taken in 1974, based upon the evidence of building construction project visible in the images. The photograph are all numbered on the back from 1-84, and they have been arranged under that order. The order seems to follow a flight path that first leads from 25th Street S., to a general encompassing views over the subject area. This is followed by views over the south side of Main Avenue between 45th Street and 28th Street. Then the north side of Main Avenue, between 34th Street and 45th Street. Then the views follow along the west side of I-29, showing the west side between Main Avenue and 18th Avenue S. Then the views follow the east side of I-29, between 13th Avenue S. and Main Avenue. The final views are over West Acres Shopping Center, and new development along 13th Avenue S.
The Residential Series feature houses and street views from throughout the city. They organized similar to the Downtown District Series, first north side avenues and streets, followed by south side avenues and streets. The Topical Series is arranged alphabetically by subject. It features a broad range of images taken for various City of Fargo projects.
The Slide Series is made up 1,802 color slides. They are arranged alphabetically by their general subject matter.
The Negative Series contains 35mm black and white and color negative. They are arranged alphabetically by their general subject matter and related to many of the photos found thought the collection. The last folder in this series contains negative contact sheets for many of the black and white photos in this series.
Dates
- 1961 - 1997
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives.
History
"The Planning Department exists to guide the growth and change of the City of Fargo while maintaining the quality of life of its residents. We strive to fulfill this commitment through the two main divisions that make up the department, Land Use and Community Development. In one way or another, each of these divisions affects the economic and community development of Fargo.
The Land Use division is the City of Fargo's primary land use agency and is integral in guiding the city's physical framework while the Community Development division guides much of the socioeconomic framework. Our ambition is to make all of Fargo a better place to live by maintaining what works and improving what does not." - This statement comes from its website (2020).
The Land Use division is the City of Fargo's primary land use agency and is integral in guiding the city's physical framework while the Community Development division guides much of the socioeconomic framework. Our ambition is to make all of Fargo a better place to live by maintaining what works and improving what does not." - This statement comes from its website (2020).
Extent
919 Photographic Prints
1802 Photographic Slides
45 Film Negatives (35mm film negative strips)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The City of Fargo Planning Department focuses on housing, downtown Fargo, neighborhoods, land use planning, homelessness, housing, community development and historic preservation.
Provenance
Donated by Dawn Mayo in 2013 (Acc. 2013-011irs)
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the City of Fargo Planning Department Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu