In January 1919, the Sixteenth Legislative Assembly convened legislature convened for its regular session. The Nonpartisan League (NPL) had their man, Lynn J. Frazier, as governor, and they now had majority control of the House and Senate. The NPL could now pass its programs and legislation virtually unopposed. Out of this session would come things like the:
On January 8, 1919, Governor Frazier addressed the legislature to start the session. Before the start of the session, there had been growing speculation that the NPL would push to overhaul the state's education system, especially since the NPL had just lost the election for Superintendent of Public Instruction. This speculation was essentially confirmed when Gov. Frazier recommended a new board be created, which would replace the Board of Regents, Board of Control, and the Board of Education.
The NPL-controlled legislature heeded the governor's recommendation. Senator Joseph I. Cahill of Leith introduced Senate Bill 134 (or SB 134) to create the Board of Administration. This new board would consist of five members: Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and three members appointed by the governor.
This new board would administer all penal institutions, charitable and educational institutions, and oversee the public and common schools for the state. It would also serve as the oversight board for the State Library Commission.
Opposition to the Board of Administration bill had been strong, with some members of the NPL speaking out against it. Officeholders like William Langer (Attorney General), Thomas Hall (Secretary of State), Carl R. Kositzky (State Auditor), and Obert A. Olson (State Treasurer) were openly opposed to the bill. Nevertheless, the bill passed and was signed into law.
To some, like the NPL, the creation of the board was viewed as a way for the state to increase efficiency and save money by consolidation. However, others, like the NPL's opposition, viewed the board as a political power grab. To give credit to the latter argument, a majority of the board upon its creation had ties to the NPL. Even the board's executive secretary, Charles Liessman, was a member of the NPL. The only member of the board not affiliated with the NPL was Minnie J. Nielson, Superintendent of Public Instruction.
On June 26, 1919, the people of North Dakota voted to uphold the Board of Administration in the referendum election, which was initiated by the Independent Voters Association (IVA). The vote was 59,749 for and 51,894 against.
At the end of July 1919, one of the last acts of the Board of Regents (before being replaced with the Board of Administration) was to accept the resignation of Minnie Clarke Budlong, who had been serving as State Librarian since 1909. Budlong resigned for health reasons and moved to California to live closer to her daughter.
In July 1919, the Board of Administration formally organized. Governor Lynn J. Frazier appointed:
The other two ex officio members were:
Totten, a controversial newspaper publisher and minister, was named chair of the board.
George A. Totten
Robert T. Muir
Patrick M. Casey
John N. Hagan
Minnie J. Nielson
Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.