Louis Sullivan (3 September 1856 – 14 April 1924) was one of the most important American architects of the late 19th century and early 20th century. With his partner Dankmar Adler he created some of the most memorable and influential skyscrapers in Chicago and elsewhere. After the Panic of 1893 caused a break in their partnership, Sullivan left but without the contacts and business sense of Adler.

In 1906, at 50, he accepted an offer to design a new headquarters for the National Farmers' Bank in Owatonna. It was described as a jewel box: an exterior like a strongbox with a decorative clasp-like facade, filled with elaborate jewel-like decoration. Hence, it and its successors became known as Sullivan's "jewel box" banks. Between then and 1920, he designed 8 banks in all: Owatonna, MN (1908), Cedar Rapids, IA (1912), Algona, IA (1913), Grinnell, IA (1914), Newark, OH (1914), West Lafayette, IN (1914), Sidney, OH (1918), and Columbus, WS (1919). Between 1919 and 1920 he remodeled a bank in Manistique, MI, nearly the last building he completed.

"With much of Sullivan's other work destroyed, these banks are (for the most part) well preserved and have contributed to the growth of his fame." Today, more is written about them than any other of his works.