1997 Red River Valley Flood Collection, 1997-

1997 Red River Valley Flood Collection

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: 1997 Red River Valley Flood Collection, 1997-

ID: OGLMC1351

Extent: 39.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1997

Subjects: Grand Forks - Floods, Grand Forks County, North Dakota - Floods, Red River Valley Flood of 1997, University of North Dakota - 1997 Red River Valley Flood

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The 1997 Red River Valley Flood Collection has been divided into ten series as follows:

Series 1: Personal Accounts

Series 2: Media Coverage

Series 3: Publications

Series 4: Governmental Organizations

Series 5: Photographs

Series 6: Audio-Visuals

Series 7: University of North Dakota

Series 8: Grand Forks Greenway

Series 9: Artifacts

Series 10: Miscellaneous

Collection Historical Note

The winter of 1996-1997 was unusually harsh as eight blizzards struck the Grand Forks region of the Red River Valley. The last and one of the most severe, Blizzard Hannah, occurred April 4-6, 1997. When the snow began to melt and the Red River began to rise, the people of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks began flood preparations in earnest. However, the cities' preparations did not anticipate the extent of the flooding. Flood preparations were made to protect the cities from a 49-foot flood crest; the actual flood crested at 54.33 feet on Tuesday, April 22. On April 18, the Red River began to overrun temporary dikes along the river. Those areas in immediate danger were evacuated. As the river continued to rise without any hint of slowing, the entire cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were evacuated on April 19. On that same day, a fire broke out in downtown Grand Forks that destroyed 11 buildings, including one entire block. During the evacuation, University of North Dakota and city of Grand Forks employees remained behind to continue to protect what they could from the still rising river crest and to perform those various administrative and governmental functions that needed to be done. On Thursday, April 24, government officials began to allow people back into the driest areas of town to visit their homes and begin the cleanup process. While the majority of the cleanup itself was finished by the end of the 1997 summer, reconstruction of destroyed basements, houses, and buildings has continued into 2000. In addition to these reconstruction efforts, the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks have been developing flood abatement strategies, most notably a 54-foot dike system in Grand Forks and a Greenway along the Red River itself.

Subject/Index Terms

Grand Forks - Floods
Grand Forks County, North Dakota - Floods
Red River Valley Flood of 1997
University of North Dakota - 1997 Red River Valley Flood

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Method: The collection has received numerous donations from a variety of individual donors.

Related Publications: Please search the library catalog for a complete list

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). 1997 Red River Valley Flood Collection. OGLMC 1351, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in February 2016.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal Accounts],
[Series 2: Media Coverage],
[Series 3: Publications],
[Series 4: Governmental Organizations],
[Series 5: Photographs],
[Series 6: Audio-Visuals],
[Series 7: University of North Dakota],
[Series 8: Greater Grand Forks Greenway],
[Series 9: Artifacts],
[Series 10: Miscellaneous],
[All]

Series 5: Photographs

This series consists of various photographs of the flood, as well as its aftermath.

Box 8

Folder 10: Pictures of United Lutheran Church, 1997-1998
Folder 16: Orion Specialty Web Flood Photographs, April 1997
Folder 17: Grand Forks Mission Photos, 1997

Box 9

Folder 1: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1-10
Folder 2: Photographs by Alan Draves; 11-20
Folder 3: Photographs by Alan Draves; 21-30
Folder 4: Photographs by Alan Draves; 31-40
Folder 5: Photographs by Alan Draves; 41-50
Folder 6: Photographs by Alan Draves; 51-60
Folder 7: Photographs by Alan Draves; 61-70
Folder 8: Photographs by Alan Draves; 71-80
Folder 9: Photographs by Alan Draves; 81-90
Folder 10: Photographs by Alan Draves; 91-100
Folder 11: Photographs by Alan Draves; 101-110
Folder 12: Photographs by Alan Draves; 111-120
Folder 13: Photographs by Alan Draves; 121-130
Folder 14: Photographs by Alan Draves; 131-140
Folder 15: Photographs by Alan Draves; 141-150
Folder 16: Photographs by Alan Draves; 151-160
Folder 17: Photographs by Alan Draves; 161-170
Folder 18: Photographs by Alan Draves; 171-180
Folder 19: Photographs by Alan Draves; 181-190
Folder 20: Photographs by Alan Draves; 191-200
Folder 21: Photographs by Alan Draves; 201-210
Folder 22: Photographs by Alan Draves; 211-220
Folder 23: Photographs by Alan Draves; 221-230
Folder 24: Photographs by Alan Draves; 231-240
Folder 25: Photographs by Alan Draves; 241-250
Folder 26: Photographs by Alan Draves; 251-260
Folder 27: Photographs by Alan Draves; 261-270
Folder 28: Photographs by Alan Draves; 271-280
Folder 29: Photographs by Alan Draves; 281-290
Folder 30: Photographs by Alan Draves; 291-300
Folder 31: Photographs by Alan Draves; 301-310
Folder 32: Photographs by Alan Draves; 311-320
Folder 33: Photographs by Alan Draves; 321-330
Folder 34: Photographs by Alan Draves; 331-340
Folder 35: Photographs by Alan Draves; 341-343
Folder 36: Photographs by Frank Slater and Joan Erickson; 344-353
Folder 37: Photographs by Jean Anderson; 354-363
Folder 38: Photographs by Jean Anderson and Brian Henderson; 364-373
Folder 39: Photographs by Brian Henderson; 374-383
Folder 40: Photographs by Brian Henderson; 384-393
Folder 41: Photographs by Brian Henderson; 394-403
Folder 42: Photographs by Brian Henderson; 404-413
Folder 43: Photographs by Brian Henderson; 414-423
Folder 44: Photographs by Brian Henderson, Jacob Dvorak, and Joan Erickson; 424-433
Folder 45: Photographs by Joan Erickson and Ray Weere; 434-443
Folder 46: Photographs by Ray Weere and Brian Henderson; 444-453
Folder 47: Photographs by Brian Henderson and Ray Weere; 454-463
Folder 48: Photographs by Ray Weere; 464-473
Folder 49: Photographs by Ray Weere and Jacob Dvorak; 474-483
Folder 50: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak and Joan Erickson; 484-493
Folder 51: Photographs by Joan Erickson and Jacob Dvorak; 494-503
Folder 52: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 504-513
Folder 53: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 514-523
Folder 54: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak and Joan Erickson; 524-533
Folder 55: Photographs by Joan Erickson; 534-543
Folder 56: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 544-553
Folder 57: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 554-563
Folder 58: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 564-573
Folder 59: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 574-583
Folder 60: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 584-593
Folder 61: Photographs by Jacob Dvorak; 594-603
Folder 62: Photographs by Frank Slater; 604-613
Folder 63: Photographs by Frank Slater; 614-623
Folder 64: Photographs by Frank Slater; 624-633
Folder 65: Photographs by Frank Slater; 634-643
Folder 66: Photographs by Frank Slater; 644-645
Folder 67: Negatives for Photographs by Frank Slater; 604-645
Folder 68: Photographs by Jim Watt; 646-655
Folder 69: Photographs by Jim Watt; 656-665
Folder 70: Photographs by Jim Watt; 666-675
Folder 71: Photographs by Jim Watt; 676-685
Folder 72: Photographs by Jim Watt; 686-695
Folder 73: Photographs by Jim Watt; 696-705
Folder 74: Photographs by Jim Watt; 706-715
Folder 75: Photograph by Jim Watt; 716 (with List of Assigned Call Signs)
Folder 76: Photographs by Jim McLaughlin; 717-727 (with Cover Letter)
Folder 77: Photographs by Alan Draves; 728-737
Folder 78: Photographs by Alan Draves; 738-747
Folder 79: Photographs by Alan Draves; 748-757
Folder 80: Photographs by Alan Draves; 758-767
Folder 81: Photographs by Alan Draves; 768-777
Folder 82: Photographs by Alan Draves; 778-787
Folder 83: Photographs by Alan Draves; 788-797
Folder 84: Photographs by Alan Draves; 798-807
Folder 85: Photographs by Alan Draves; 808-817
Folder 86: Photographs by Alan Draves; 818-827
Folder 87: Photographs by Alan Draves; 828-837
Folder 88: Photographs by Alan Draves; 838-847
Folder 89: Photographs by Alan Draves; 848-857
Folder 90: Photographs by Alan Draves; 858-867
Folder 91: Photographs by Alan Draves; 868-877
Folder 92: Photographs by Alan Draves; 878-887
Folder 93: Photographs by Alan Draves; 888-897
Folder 94: Photographs by Alan Draves; 898-907
Folder 95: Photographs by Alan Draves; 908-917
Folder 96: Photographs by Alan Draves; 918-927
Folder 97: Photographs by Alan Draves; 928-937
Folder 98: Photographs by Alan Draves; 938-947
Folder 99: Photographs by Alan Draves; 948-951
Folder 100: Photographs by Frank Slater; 952-961
Folder 101: Photographs by Frank Slater; 962-963

Box 10

Folder 1: Photographs by Julie Copeland; 964-973
Folder 2: Photographs by Julie Copeland; 974-983
Folder 3: Photographs by Julie Copeland; 984-993
Folder 4: Photographs by Julie Copeland; 994-1003
Folder 5: Photographs by Julie Copeland; 1004-1013
Folder 6: Photographs of the Chester Fritz Library; 1014-1016
Folder 7: Photographs by Glinda Crawford; 1017-1026
Folder 8: Photographs by Glinda Crawford; 1027-1036
Folder 9: Photographs by Glinda Crawford; 1037-1046
Folder 10: Photographs by Glinda Crawford; 1047-1056
Folder 11: Photographs by Glinda Crawford; 1057-1066
Folder 12: Photographs by Glinda Crawford; 1067-1074
Folder 13: Photographs by Frank Slater; 1075-1085
Folder 14: Photographs by Frank Slater; 1086-1095
Folder 15: Negatives for Photographs by Frank Slater; 1075-1095
Folder 16: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1096-1105
Folder 17: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1106-1115
Folder 18: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1116-1125
Folder 19: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1126-1135
Folder 20: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1136-1145
Folder 21: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1146-1155
Folder 22: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1156-1165
Folder 23: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1166-1175
Folder 24: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1176-1185
Folder 25: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1186-1195
Folder 26: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1196-1205
Folder 27: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1206-1215
Folder 28: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1216-1225
Folder 29: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1226-1235
Folder 30: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1236-1245
Folder 31: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1246-1255
Folder 32: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1256-1265
Folder 33: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1266-1275
Folder 34: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1276-1285
Folder 35: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1286-1295
Folder 36: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1296-1305
Folder 37: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1306-1315
Folder 38: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1316-1325
Folder 39: Photographs by Alan Draves; 1326-1336
Folder 40: Photographs by Shelby Harken; 1337-1344
Folder 41: Photographs by Frank Slater; 1345-1354
Folder 42: Photographs by Molly Kjos and Ray Weere; 1355-1364
Folder 43: Photographs by Ray Weere; 1365-1374
Folder 44: Photographs by Ray Weere; 1375-1384
Folder 45: Photographs by Ray Weere; 1385-1394
Folder 46: Photographs by Ray Weere; 1395-1396
Folder 47: Slides: 1-10
Folder 48: Slides: 11-20
Folder 49: Slides: 21-30
Folder 50: Slides: 31-40
Folder 51: Slides: 41-50
Folder 52: Slides: 51-60
Folder 53: Slides: 61-70
Folder 54: Slides: 71-80
Folder 55: Slides: 81-90
Folder 56: Slides: 91-93

Box 12

Folder 14: "Come Hell and High Water" and "The Angel Appears", 1997
Folder 15: Aerial Views of Towns Along the Red River; Alvarado, MN; Bowesmont, ND; Caledonia, ND; Christine, ND; Climax, ND; Crystal Sugar Plant at Drayton, ND; Drayton, ND; April 12-May 1, 1997
Folder 16: Aerial Views of Towns Along the Red River; Everson, MB; Fairmount, ND; Georgetown, MN; Halstad; MN; Harwood, ND; Hendrum, MN; Humboldt, MN; Manvel, ND; April 12-May 1, 1997
Folder 17: Aerial Views of Towns Along the Red River; McCanesville; Noyes, MN; Oakwood, ND; Oslo, MN; Pembina, ND; Pembina, ND/St. Vincent, MN; Perley, MN; Warren, MN; April 12-May 1, 1997

Box 17

Folder 50: Photographs by Alan Draves, 4th and Demers, Downtown Grand Forks; 1397-1418
Folder 51: Photographs by Alan Draves, County Building, Downtown Grand Forks; 1419-1426
Folder 52: Photographs by Alan Draves, 4th Street. Grand Forks; 1427-1433
Folder 53: Photographs by Alan Draves, South 3rd Street, Grand Forks; 1434-1460
Folder 54: Photographs by Alan Draves, 3rd Street, Grand Forks; 1461-1475
Folder 55: Photographs by Alan Draves, Riverside; 1476-1486
Folder 56: Photographs by Alan Draves, Lincoln Drive, Grand Forks; 1487-1496
Folder 57: Photographs by Alan Draves, South Side, Grand Forks; 1497-1508
Folder 58: Photographs by Alan Draves, South Side, Grand Forks; 1509-1531
Folder 59: Photographs by Alan Draves, Miscellaneous Grand Forks; 1532-1535
Folder 60: Photographs by Alan Draves, East Grand Forks; 1536-1550
Folder 61: Photographs by Alan Draves, Flood Memorial, Grand Forks; 1551-1554
Folder 62: Photographs by Alan Draves, Sherlock Park, East Grand Forks; 1555-1558
Folder 63: Photographs by Alan Draves, Downtown East Grand Forks; 1559-1598
Folder 64: Photographs by Alan Draves, Red River; 1599-1608
Folder 65: Photographs by Alan Draves, Gilby, North Dakota, in 2000; 1609-1617
Folder 66: Photograph Negatives, Alan Draves
Folder 96: Photographs; 1618-1622

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids