Cultural Center in Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Robert Pauli Scherer

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou

1. Robert Pauli Scherer Marker

Inscription. Robert Pauli Scherer (1906-1960) was a native of Detroit and a graduate of Detroit's public schools. In 1930, at the age of twenty-four, he invented the rotary die encapsulation machine in a workshop located in the basement of this structure. The building was then the home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Otto Scherer. R.P. Scherer's invention transformed the production of soft gelatin capsules used in the pharmaceutical industry into a commercial process that helped raise worldwide health and nutritional standards. In 1933, he founded the present-day R.P. Scherer Corporation. With eighteen plants in twelve countries, the firm was the world's largest manufacturer of soft gelatin capsules in 1984. An ingenious inventor, Scherer received fifty-two patents during his lifetime. His experimental machine was placed in the Smithsonian Institution in 1955.

Erected 1984 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number S563.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 42° 21.634′ N, 83° 3.925′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan

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, in Wayne County. It is in Cultural Center. It is on East Kirby Street 0.1 miles east of Michigan Highway 1, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 67 East Kirby Street, Detroit MI 48202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan.

It is also 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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: International Institute Of Detroit / International Institute Of Metropolitan Detroit (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charles Lang Freer House / Merrill-Palmer Institute (about 400 feet away); Lewis College of Business (about 500 feet away); Omega Psi Phi (about 700 feet away); Scarab Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Detroit Association of Women's Clubs (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cathedral Church of St. Paul / Interfaith Emergency Center (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wayne State University (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Detroit.

Additional commentary.
1. R.P. Scherer Corporation merged with Cardinal Health, Inc.
Cardinal Health, Inc. of Dublin, Ohio merged with R.P. Scherer Corporation in August 1998 - PR Newswire

— Submitted June 23, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

2. Hellenic Museum of Michigan
The Scherer home is now home to the Hellenic Museum

Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 3, 2015

2. Robert Pauli Scherer Marker

of Michigan.

— Submitted June 23, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

Robert Pauli Scherer Marker and House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 3, 2015

3. Robert Pauli Scherer Marker and House

Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,448 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 14, 2024, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.