Downtown in Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Pi Lambda Chapter Founded
March 3, 1926
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022
1. Pi Lambda Chapter Founded Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical date for this entry is March 3, 1926.
Location. 34° 44.151′ N, 92° 17.11′ W. Marker is in Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of South Ringo Street and West 15th Street, on the right when traveling south on South Ringo Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 S Ringo St, Little Rock AR 72202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. John G. Thornton (approx. ¼ mile away); Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Steele (approx. 0.3 miles away); Arkansas in the Battle of New Market (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hemingway House (approx. 0.4 miles away); George W. Dickinson House (approx. 0.4 miles away); R. Neel-G.A.A. Deane House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cornish House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Little Rock.
Regarding Pi Lambda Chapter Founded. Excerpt from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the house, known as the Bush-Dubisson House:
S. E. Wiggins, a black contractor described as “very meticulous about his work,” built the Bush-DubissonHouse at 1500 Ringo Street in 1925 for Aldridge E. Bush and his wife, Ellastein. A. E. Bush was the youngest son of John E. Bush, co-founder of the Mosaic Templars of America, a black fraternal organization that grew to national scope before its demise during the Depression. A. E. Bush had the house built shortly after he became the Mosaic Templars' chief officer, a position called “National Grand Scribe and Treasurer.” …
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In the early 1930s, Aldridge and Ellastein Bush sold the house at 1500 Ringo to Daniel J. Dubisson and his second wife, Lula. Dan Dubisson was another local success story. … In 1917, he joined forces with an embalmer to establish an undertaking business which was known as Dubisson Undertaking Parlor at the time he purchased the house on Ringo Street. This business, now Dubisson Funeral Home, remains in existence today. For several years, Dan Dubisson also operated Dubisson Insurance Association.…
In 1989, the local alumni chapter of a black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, purchased the house from out-of-state members of the Dubisson family and launched a renovation that made the house usable by the fraternity as its headquarters.
Also see . . .
1. About Us. Brief history of the fraternity and its work in the community. (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.) (Submitted on November 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022
2. Pi Lambda Chapter Founded Marker
2. Bush-Dubisson House (PDF). The house became a social center for the neighborhood while the Dubissons lived there, and their guests included opera singer Marian Anderson. (Mark K. Christ, Encyclopedia of Arkansas) (Submitted on November 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
3. Bush-Dubisson House (PDF). National Register nomination for the house, which was listed in 1999. (National Archives) (Submitted on November 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
