Shifflet, Backstrom, Hutchison and Dickey papers

Glynne Shifflet was born in Winfred, South Dakota on March 17, 1907. He earned his degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota in 1929. He attended the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts in France for two months in 1930, returning to the United States to work as a designer and draftsman for Cass Gilbert in New York and then Cyril Pesek in Minneapolis. In 1931, Pesek and Shifflet formed a partnership that lasted until 1942 when Pesek joined 3M as an executive officer. Shortly after World War II, Kenneth A.W. Backstrom entered the firm as partner, followed by Marlin Hutchison and Arthur Dickey. The firm was known Shifflet, Backstrom, Hutchison & Dickey, Inc. during the 1950s and 1960s. Glynne Shifflet died on May 23, 1971 in Minneapolis.

Kenneth A.W. Backstrom was born on December 30, 1902 in Pipestone, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota and Harvard University pursuing a degree in architecture. Backstrom worked as a designer and draftsman for Long & Thorshov (Minneapolis, 1928), York & Sawyer (New York, 1929-1930), Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbott (Boston, 1930), Gehron & Ross (New York, 1931) and Gander, Gander & Gander (Albany, NY, 1932). From 1936-1941, he was an architect for the Columbia Broadcasting System Inc. in New York and simultaneously ran his own practice. Backstrom joined Shifflet in practice in Minneapolis some time after World War II.

Marlin Douglas Hutchison was born on October 1, 1926 in Marion, North Dakota. He earned his architectural degree from the University of Minnesota in 1952 and joined in partnership with Glynne Shifflet in April of 1952.

Arthur Harold Dickey was born on December 7, 1928 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He earned his degree in architecture from the University of Nebraska in 1952 and joined in partnership with Glynne Shifflet in June of 1952. Arthur Dickey died on January 19, 2001.