Douglas (Bronzeville) in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Supreme Life Building

— Chicago Landmark —

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2021

1. Supreme Life Building Marker

Inscription.
Supreme Life Building
Built 1921; remodeled 1950

This was the longtime headquarters of the Supreme Life Insurance Co., the first African-American owned and operated insurance company in the northern United States. The firm was founded in 1919 by Frank L. Gillespie, and moved into this building in 1921. To highlight its success, the company modernized the building in 1950, covering the original classical-style facade with porcelain-metal panels. One of nine structures in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District.

Designated on September 9, 1998
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list.

Location. 41° 49.858′ N, 87° 37.006′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas (Bronzeville). It is at the intersection of South Martin Luther King Drive and East 35th Street on South Martin Luther King Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3500 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago IL 60653, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Col. Franklin A. Denison (within shouting distance of this marker); Lt. George Giles (within shouting distance of this marker); Truman Gibson Sr. / Truman Gibson Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Mjr. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Victory, World War I Black Soldiers’ Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Bronzeville (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bronzeville (within shouting distance of this marker); The Boulevard System (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . . African Americans in the Insurance Business: Supreme Liberty Life Insurance (Black History Heroes).

"Frank L. Gillespie was an Arkansas-native and insurance agent for Royal Insurance Company. He quickly noted the inferior quality life insurance policy provisions offered African Americans by the White-owned insurance agency. The Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Co. (also referenced to as Supreme Life Insurance Company) was incorporated in 1919 by an investment group headed by Gillespie. The first Black-owned insurance agency outside of the U.S. southern states offered African Americans a better quality life insurance than offered by
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2021

2. Supreme Life Building Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here to the right of the door.
White-owned agencies of the time."

(Submitted on December 19, 2021.)

Supreme Life Building (1943) image. Click for full size.

Kaufman & Fabry Co.; courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-040125), circa 1943

3. Supreme Life Building (1943)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,039 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on December 19, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 3. submitted on April 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.