The Associates of the James Ford Bell Collection were organized as a Minnesota corporation in December, 1963, by John Parker, Maynard Hasselquist, and T. R. Anderson, in consultation with Wheelock Whitney. They were granted non-profit status by the IRS in 1965.

 The first elected Board of Directors:

 T. R. Anderson – Chairman

Maynard B. Hasselquist - First Vice Chairman

John Parker - Executive Secretary

Lyman E. Wakefield, Jr. – Treasurer

Mrs. John S. Dalrymple (Anne nee Hull)

J. Cameron Thomson

John E. Tilton

W.G. Sheperd