Downtown Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Armstrong College Building

Walter H. Ratcliff, Architect

— 1923 —

Armstrong College Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

1. Armstrong College Building Marker

Inscription. City of Berkeley Landmark
designated in 1994
“To Inculcate the Highest Standards and Ideals in Business.” That lofty aim, incised high on the façade of this graceful Spanish Colonial building, guided Armstrong College for more than 70 years. Known in its early days as the California School for Private Secretaries, the private school met with limited success until classes in penmanship and shorthand gave way to a more academic curriculum. Renamed Armstrong University, its reputation grew, drawing students from around the world. After a decade of use as a training facility for the University of California, the building was acquired by the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center in 2009 and renamed Dharma College.

Erected 2011 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1994.

Location. 37° 52.114′ N, 122° 16.169′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Downtown Berkeley. It is on Harold Way south of Allston Way, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2220 Harold Way, Berkeley CA 94704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Elks Club Building (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Berkeley Public Library (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Berkeley Y.M.C.A. (about 300 feet away); Berkeley High School Alumni: Chinaka Hodge, Phil Lesh, Joshua Redman, The Lonely Island (about 400 feet away); Morse Block (about 500 feet away); Federal Land Bank (about 500 feet away); Tupper & Reed Building (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

2. Armstrong College Building Marker

The marker is to the right of the entrance.

Armstrong College Building - detail, south side image. Click for full size.

April 1, 2012

3. Armstrong College Building - detail, south side

Armstrong College Building - wide view image. Click for full size.

April 1, 2012

4. Armstrong College Building - wide view

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,003 times since then and 115 times this year. Last updated on April 15, 2012. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4. submitted on April 15, 2012. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.