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News & Notes

Senate Republican (Majority) Press Releases
Arizona Legislature
1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2844

Senate President Ken Bennett (R-1)
602-926-5584
House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-10)
602-926-4173


September 20, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Ground is broken to commence construction of new State Archives and History Building

(Phoenix, AZ) – Today Arizona takes a major step toward permanently preserving and protecting the state’s irreplaceable historical documents and other important records. The groundbreaking ceremony at the site of 19th Avenue and Madison kicks off the construction of a two-story, 124,330 square foot facility the state desperately needs to preserve the documents that preserve its history.
The Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building will fill a long-standing void in the state’s ability to efficiently maintain and safeguard important documents. It has been 60 years since a facility has been built in Arizona to preserve and protect the state’s records. In fact, there is currently no place to preserve or treat records that have been time, insect or water damaged.
The new archives building will contain sophisticated equipment that will actually enable officials to restore records that have been subject to certain damage from years of being stored in difficult conditions at numerous older sites around the state. The $38 million dollar structure is also designed to withstand just about any man-made or natural occurrence, and is being built to fulfill its safekeeping purpose for many generations.
Senate President Ken Bennett said, “Preserving the rich history of our beautiful and rapidly growing state is something we owe to all Arizonans. The Polly Rosenbaum Building will pay tremendous dividends as an investment in Arizona’s future through the confidence and knowledge that historical documents and important records are secure and accessible.”
House Speaker Jim Weiers said, “This magnificent building named after Polly will serve to protect and showcase our wonderful state history. The important documents to be housed here will give generations of Arizonans an opportunity to learn about our state's rich history.”
President Bennett added, “It is hard to imagine this facility carrying a more appropriate name than that of the dynamic Polly Rosenbaum, a woman who both witnessed and contributed to so much of the wonderful history of Arizona.”
The building is named for legendary state legislator Polly Rosenbaum who served in the House of Representatives from 1949-1995. Her 45 years in the state house has made her Arizona’s longest serving legislator. Former Representative Rosenbaum passed away in 2003 at the age of 104.
While there will be a 140-seat public meeting room as well as a substantial public research room in the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building, due to its main function of preserving and protecting historical and important documents, most of the facility will be accessible only to officials charged with the organization and care of the records stored there.
Note that the Library and Archives offices will remain at the Capitol, as well as the storage of approximately one million volumes of federal and state legal materials.

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For further information contact:
Nick Simonetta, Communications and Policy Advisor to the Majority
 Arizona State Senate
Office: (602) 926-5418, e-mail: nsimonet@azleg.gov
OR
Barrett Marson, Director of Communications
 Arizona House of Representatives
Office: (602) 926-3233, e-mail: bmarson@azleg.gov