Lafayette Park in Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fannie Richards Homesite

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 2021

1. Fannie Richards Homesite Marker

Inscription. Fannie Richards, Detroit’s first black public school teacher, lived on this site. Born in Virginia about 1840, she moved to Detroit as a young woman. In 1863, she opened a private school for black children, and two years later was appointed to teach in the city’s colored schools. In 1869 she helped sponsor a lawsuit against Detroit’s racially segregated school system, and in a landmark decision, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered the schools integrated. An innovative teacher, Fannie Richards was transferred to the Everett Elementary School in 1871 where she taught the city’s first kindergarten class. She retired from Everett in 1915, completing fifty years of service in Detroit schools. Fannie Richards died in 1922.

Erected 1975 by Michigan History Division, Department of State, Detroit Historical Commission. (Marker Number L0365.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list.

Location. 42° 20.101′ N, 83° 2.112′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Lafayette Park. Marker is on Rivard Street, 0.1 miles north of Larned Street

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, on the right when traveling north. Marker is near the driveway for the Lafayette Park Place Apartments. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 Rivard St, Detroit MI 48207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Holy Family Church (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Church of Annunciation (approx. 0.2 miles away); Black Bottom (approx. ¼ mile away); Frederick Douglass - John Brown Meeting (approx. ¼ mile away); First Jewish Religious Services (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Mary's Rectory (approx. ¼ mile away); Detroit Cornice and Slate Building (approx. ¼ mile away); SS. Peter and Paul Church (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Detroit.

Also see . . . Fannie Richards: Integration Pioneer. Excerpt:

Desiring to have better training than what was then given to persons of color in Detroit, she went to Toronto. There she studied English, history, drawing and needlework. In later years she attended the Teachers Training School in Detroit.

(Submitted on May 4, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 3, 2021

2. Fannie Richards Homesite Marker

Fannie Richards image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou

3. Fannie Richards

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 425 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.