For more than a century the Cobb Building on Walton Street in Chicago has been the Newberry Library's only home. In March of 1888, the Newberry estate trustees engaged Henry Ives Cobb to design a permanent structure for the Library. Following protracted discussions about the site and conflicts between architect Cobb and librarian William Frederick Poole regarding building design, construction began October 6, 1890, at the Walton Street location. Various problems, including difficulties in procuring granite for the facade, delayed the completion of the building until November 15, 1893.

Proposals, contracts, specifications, financial statements, correspondence, and reports. Includes Henry Ives Cobb's contract, correspondence regarding design, construction, and payment, and summary financial statements; contractors' contracts, correspondence, insurance policies, proposals, and statements; librarian William F. Poole's correspondence with the trustees regarding a site for the building; trustee Bradley's correspondence with trustee Blatchford regarding problems with the architect and the granite; and trustee reports on construction costs.

For photographs of the construction of the Cobb Building, see Record Group 15/01/03.