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historical documents and other important records.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future through the confidence and knowledge that historical
documents and important records are secure and accessible.”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