Cultural Center in Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lewis College of Business
Photographed By Joel S., June 3, 2015
1. Lewis College of Business Marker
Inscription.
Lewis College of Business. . This Colonial Revival structure was built in 1910 for James F. Murphy, Treasurer of the Murphy Chair Company and a future director of the Murphy-Potter Company. In 1941 it became the office of the Lewis College of Business. Violet T. Lewis had established the college in Indianapolis in 1929 to train black women for business careers. Ten years later the Detroit Chamber of Commerce invited her to open a school here. The college was located at this site from 1941 to 1976, when its expansion required more spacious quarters. In its first fifty years, it educated over 20,000 students. The United States Department of Education designated the Lewis College of Business a "Historically Black College" in 1987. It was the first college in the state to receive this designation.
This Colonial Revival structure was built in 1910 for James F. Murphy, Treasurer of the Murphy Chair Company and a future director of the Murphy-Potter Company. In 1941 it became the office of the Lewis College of Business. Violet T. Lewis had established the college in Indianapolis in 1929 to train black women for business careers. Ten years later the Detroit Chamber of Commerce invited her to open a school here. The college was located at this site from 1941 to 1976, when its expansion required more spacious quarters. In its first fifty years, it educated over 20,000 students. The United States Department of Education designated the Lewis College of Business a "Historically Black College" in 1987. It was the first college in the state to receive this designation.
Erected 1988 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1565.)
Location. 42° 21.713′ N, 83° 3.884′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is
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in Cultural Center. Marker is at the intersection of John R Street and East Ferry Street when traveling south on John R Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5450 John R Street, Detroit MI 48202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 23, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
