Municipal Archives

Dallas City Hall Collection, 1966-1978

Collection 1991-124

​Overview

Repository
Office of the City Secretary
Dallas Municipal Archives
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201
Creator City Manager's Office
Title Dallas City Hall Collection
Dates 1966-1978
Quantity 10 linear feet
Abstract Documentation and images of the building and 1978 dedication of new Dallas City Hall.
Identification 1991-124
Language Records are in English


Scope and Content

Collection consists of typescript manuscripts, electrostatic (Xerox), printed materials, and black and white and color photographic prints documenting the building and 1978 dedication of the Dallas City Hall.  

The bulk of the collection contains memoranda and information concerning the construction of the building, decision-making regarding interior furnishings and interior space configuration, and details of the initial building occupation.

There are three-dimensional items in the collection—a plastic Frisbee from the building dedication, commemorative coins, and an embossed vinyl binder from the dedication.

Dallas City Hall, initially called the Dallas Municipal Center, is located at 1500 Marilla Street in downtown Dallas. Planning began by order of the Dallas City Council in May 1966. 

The architect of the building was IM Pei and Partners, and the contractor was Robert E McKee, Inc.  Construction commenced on June 26, 1972, and was completed at a cost of nearly $70 million dollars. The new building was dedicated March 12, 1978, and was attended by I. M. Pei, sculptor Sir Henry Moore, present and former city officials, and the general public. 

Photographic materials document mostly the dedicatory events of March 10-12, 1978, but also show the construction of the building, previews, and move-in activities.  The first Dallas City Council Meeting in the new building, held on February 1, 1978, was also documented photographically.  A small series of prints document the creation, transportation, and installation of the Henry Moore sculpture that sits on the West plaza in front of the building.  The collection also contains a number of half-toned images of political cartoons that appeared in local Dallas newspapers regarding controversial issues surrounding the building of the City Hall. 

Organization

The collection is organized by material type.  The collection contains oversized information.

Access

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives.  All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.   It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization for any images.

Citation

Dallas City Hall Collection, 1966-1978 (Box <#>, Folder <#>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related materials

None

Index terms

City Hall Plaza (Dallas, Tex.)
City halls -- Texas -- Dallas
Dallas -- Texas -- History
Dallas City Hall

Container List

Box Folder Title, Date
11Project Files Listing, Dallas Municipal Center
 2 Office Layouts
 3  Office Furniture
 4 Public Area Furniture and Furnishings
 5Special Counters
21Development of Interiors Policy
 2 Carpeting
 3  Telephones
 4 Reproduction and Printing
 5Data Processing Room
 6Police and Fire Communications
 7Office Computer Terminals
 8Electrical Floor Outlets
 9Vending Areas, Coffee Services
 10Council Pantry
 11Interior Landscaping
 12Exterior Landscaping
 13DMC South Lawn
 14Parking
 15Park Plaza
 16Exterior Art Work
 17Interior Art Work (Public Spaces)
 18Interior Art Work (Office Spaces)
 19Garage Graphics
 20Building Graphics
 21Audio/Visual Equipment – Council Chamber
 22Building Information Brochure
 23Internal Location Map
 24City of Dallas Seal (Plaza)
 25Dedication Plaque (Building)
 26Commemorative Coins
 27Building Dedication Schedule
 28Move Schedule/ "Move-In" Plan
 29Tour Guides
 30Coat Racks-Architect
 31Storage Shelves
 32Records Management Policies
 33Monthly Newsletter
 34Budget Management
31Secondary Move Coordination
 2 Desk Accessories, Waste Baskets – Architectural Recommendations
 3  Employee Parking Policy
 4 Bus Routes to DMC – Dallas Transit System
 5Old Furniture
 6Space for Fire and Police Chiefs
 7Photo Lab Development
 8Housing of Gifts from Foreign Countries
 9Publications Store
 10Convenience Counter
 11Tours of Dallas Municipal Center (Pre-Opening)
 12Publicity
41Change Orders
 2 Architect-Contractor Correspondence
 3  Architect-Contractor Correspondence
 4 Architect-Contractor Correspondence
 5Architect-Contractor Correspondence
51Pros and Cons (City Hall Complex), Letters from Organizations and Individuals, 1970
 2 City Hall Groundbreaking, August 14, 1972
 3  Research Projects, 1975
 4 Copier Project, 1976
 5Facility Coordinators, 1976-1977
 6Standard Operating Procedures Taskforce, 1977
 7City Hall Opening, 1978
 8City Hall Opening, 1978
 9Commemorative Plastic Frisbee with City Seal, 1978
61Preview Opening of Dallas City Hall, December 17, 1977
 2 First Council Meeting in New City Hall, February 1, 1978
 3  City Hall Opening Weekend Ceremonies, March 11-12, 1978
 4 City Hall Opening Weekend Ceremonies, March 11-12, 1978
 5City Hall Opening Weekend Ceremonies, March 11-12, 1978
 6City Hall Opening Luncheon, March 12, 1978
 7City Hall Opening Weekend Ceremonies Mailing List
 8Dedication Brochure
71Photocopy Articles on Henry Moore and I.M. Pei
 2 Concrete Forming, Volume 3, No. 1 "Design in Concrete: I.M. Pei Amberg; R.S. Fling's Fling"
 3  Food and Vending Bids & Proposals; City of Dallas Specifications
 4 Food and Vending Bids & Proposals; City of Dallas Specifications
 5City Hall Interiors Committee
 6Personnel/Health Clinic Proposal and Specifications
 7City Council Agenda, February 1, 1978
 8Planning and Construction Notes and Correspondence, 1976-1978
81Facility Coordinators, 1977-1978
 2 Newspaper Clippings and Photographs, 1978
 3  Documentary Film, 1978
 4 Dallas Art '78 Opening, March 11, 1978
 5First Council Meeting Reception Notes
 6Response List from Dedication Mailing List
 7City Hall Events
 8City Hall Parking
 9City Hall Policies
 10City Hall Store
 11Thank-You Coffees (April, 1978)
 12Conference Rooms, 1978
 13Press Facilities Proposed Policies
 14Sound Masking
 15Lawsuit
 16Printed Dedication Invitations
 17Dallas Municipal Center, Council Action Items and Correspondence
 18Dallas Municipal Center, Council Action Items and Correspondence
91Dallas Municipal Center Presentation Album, July 5, 1976
 2 Dallas Municipal Center Presentation Album, July 5, 1976 copy 2
 3  Media Contacts and Information and Notes Regarding Media Coverage
 4 Media Contacts and Information and Notes Regarding Media Coverage
 5Guest Register, March 12, 1978
 6Guest Register, March 12, 1978
 7Photographic Materials: City Hall Dedication and Events, March 12, 1978 [Black and White Prints]
 8Dallas Municipal Center Presentation Album, July 5, 1976
101Photographic Materials: City Hall Dedication and Events, March 12, 1978 [Color Prints]
 2 City Hall Dedication and Events, March 12, 1978 [Color Prints]
 3  City Hall Dedication and Events, March 12, 1978, and First Council Meeting, March 1, 1978 [Color Prints]
 4 City Hall Dedication and Events, March 12, 1978 [Color Prints]
 5City Hall Dedication and Events, March 12, 1978 [Color Prints]
 6 The Dallas Piece, Henry Moore Sculpture [Black and White and Color Prints]
 7City Hall Preview, December 17, 1977 [Black and White Prints]
 8City Hall Move-In, January 5, 1978 [Black and White Prints]
 9First City Council Meeting, February 1, 1978 [Black and White Prints]
 10Official Council Portrait, February 1, 1978 [Color Prints]
 11Contact Sheets [Color]
111Oversized Materials: Political Cartoons Regarding Dallas City Hall, 1966-1972
 2Commemorative Newspapers regarding new City Hall, 1978
 3Commemorative binder
 
Oversized folder
​​​Oversized plans and drawings of City Hall construction and interior design, 1976-1978


Container List for Addition 1

​Box
 ​Title, Date
12
 ​Commemorative coins, 1978
[The obverse contains an image of City Hall, and the reverse shows the city's star logo on the obverse.]