Arvonne Fraser Library


Arvonne Fraser Library is a public library in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Its primary service area is the University, Minneapolis community. The library was one of thirteen branch libraries established under the leadership of Gratia Countryman, the chief librarian of the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 to 1936.

East Side Branch, 1891–1904

The third branch of the Minneapolis Public library opened on November 1, 1891 in the old Winthrop School building at 22 University Avenue Southeast. It was replaced by the Pillsbury Library in 1904.

Pillsbury Library, 1904–1967

John Sargent Pillsbury, Minnesota's eighth governor, offered to build a branch library at the corner of University and Central Avenues in old St. Anthony. The location was few blocks from the iconic Pillsbury "A" Mill and close to the governor's home. Although Pillsbury died before the library opened in April, 1904, the family carried out the gift. One of the most beautiful library branches in Minneapolis, the library was built out of marble and featured mahogany inside. In 1960 a new Central Library opened right across the river from the Pillsbury Library so a location closer to the University Community's core was sought. The Southeast Library replaced the Pillsbury Library in 1967.
Located at 100 University Avenue Southeast, after many years as the Dolly Fiterman gallery, the Pillsbury Library more recently housed the Phillips Foundation.

Seven Corners Library, 1906-1964

A successful delivery station was replaced in 1906 by the Seven Corners Branch in a rented space at 231 Cedar Avenue. The Seven Corners area was teeming with new immigrants and the library was quite busy. A permanent Seven Corners branch was built at 300 15th Ave. South in 1912. By 1964 the library's circulation numbers paled in comparison to its first decades of existence. The building was sold to the Minnesota Department of Transportation and was razed for highway construction.

Southeast Library, 1967-2018

Southeast Library's building was designed by master architect Ralph Rapson and originally functioned as a credit union for university and state employees. It opened as a library in 1967. The State Capitol Credit Union building at 1222 Fourth Street Southeast was purchased to be converted into a library on December 29, 1966. It opened as the new Southeast Library on December 26, 1967.
Southeast Library and 14 other libraries of Minneapolis Public Library were merged into the combined urban/suburban Hennepin County Library in 2008.
The library closed for 10 to 12 months for an $11.6 million renovation beginning on December 10, 2018.

Arvonne Fraser Library, 2019-present

On December 11, 2018 the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners voted to rename the library. The Arvonne Fraser Library reopened on Saturday January 25, 2020.