Burns Park in Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Martha Cook Building

Photographed By Joel Seewald, April 4, 2016

1. Martha Cook Building Marker

Inscription.
Side 1
The Martha Cook Building first housed women students of the University of Michigan in 1915. New York lawyer William W. Cook, a Michigan alumnus, donated the building. The Collegiate Gothic residence was named for Cook's mother, Martha W. Cook. New York architects York and Sawyer designed this building as well as the university Law Quadrangle, one of Cook's later donations. Paul Suttman's garden statue, known as "Eve," was a fiftieth anniversary gift of the building's alumnae.

Side 2
A statue of Portia, the heroine of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, stands above the entrance of the Martha Cook Building. Gothic groin vaults frame the ground floor hallway, which houses a full-sized marble replica of the Venus de Milo. The Red Room, which connects to the Gold Room by a paneled alcove, displays a seventeenth century Flemish tapestry. William W. Cook's Steinway piano, commissioned in 1913, as well as a bust of Cook are exhibited in the Gold Room.

Erected 1990 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number S601.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location.

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42° 16.492′ N, 83° 44.278′ W. Marker is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in Washtenaw County. It is in Burns Park. Marker is at the intersection of South University Avenue and Tappan Avenue, on the left when traveling west on South University Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 906 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor MI 48109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William L. Clements Library (a few steps from this marker); The President's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Law Quadrangle (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Professors' Monument (about 400 feet away); Samuel Denton (about 400 feet away); Joseph Whiting (about 500 feet away); Tappan Hall (about 500 feet away); Charles Fox (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ann Arbor.

Also see . . . Martha Cook Dormitory. (Submitted on October 9, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed By Joel Seewald, April 4, 2016

2. Martha Cook Building Marker

Martha Cook Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, April 4, 2016

3. Martha Cook Building

Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 10, 2021

4. Martha Cook Building

Close up of the building entrance, showing Portia above the entrance.

Martha Cook Building Marker — statue of "Eve" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 10, 2021

5. Martha Cook Building Marker — statue of "Eve"

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 580 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 7, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4, 5. submitted on July 28, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.