The Detroit Club

Subject

Staff Only

Subject Source: Local sources

Scope Note: The Detroit Club is a private social club located at 712 Cass Avenue in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The building was constructed in 1891 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. he origin of the Detroit Club dates to 1882, when Detroit attorney Samuel T. Douglas and banker/broker James Campbell decided to found a club where local businessmen could meet and mingle.[2] With an original membership of 10, they rented a house on Lafayette between Wayne and Cass, and hired a chef. They soon convinced 100 more of Detroit's citizens to join. Early members included Russell A. Alger, ex-governor of Michigan, Hugh McMillan, founder of the Michigan Telephone Company, and real estate magnate James B. Book. Within a year, the club had outgrown its first home and moved to larger quarters on Fort Street. Less than a decade later, the club hired architect Wilson Eyre to design new building to serve as their meeting place.

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Detroit Club collection

Collection

Identifier: 018.DC

Abstract The Detroit Club collection contains the records of the Detroit Club (1882-1996), a social and dinner club for men founded in the city of Detroit in 1882, where members could meet to dine, exchange ideas, conduct business, and promote fellowship. This collection is a comprehensive documentation of the club’s activities, which include administrative, financial, and membership records. Records date past the life of the club; after the club disbanded, members continued to meet through 2001 and...

Dates: 1882 - 2001

Found in: Eastern Michigan University Archives / Detroit Club collection