Detroit Club: The Life of a Social Club in Detroit


A collaboration between the Eastern Michigan University Archives and the Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences for the 2021-2022 "Detroit" Theme Year.

 
The Detroit Club collection at the Eastern Michigan University Archives consists of hundreds of documents and photographs. Dating from shortly after the inception of th Detroit Club in 1882 through the beginning of the 21st century, the collection offers a unique, long term view of the Club. As the premier social club in the heart of Detroit, the Club long served and hosted the elite of Michigan.
  • Main Dining Room with Fireplace on Right
    A black and white photograph of a the Main Dining Room with set tables. Take in the evening and lit by internal lighting, a fireplace is seen on the right with the Detroit Club logo above the mantel.
  • Large Meeting Room with Podium
    A black and white photograph of a large meeting space with rows of chairs set to face a podium. Two windows are seen on the back wall and large framed paintings hang from the walls.
  • Private Furnished Hotel Room
    A black and white photograph of a private, furnished hotel room available to members of the Detroit Club. A bed and comfortable chair are separated by a small television. Two slightly open windows are in the foreground.
  • Large Private Dining Room with Set Table
    A black and white photograph of a separate, private dining room. A large table is set for dining with a white table cloth and dinnerware. Table is surrounded by chairs. The walls of the room are wood with trim and framed art hangs from walls. Curtained windows allow light to enter the room.
  • Conference Room with Table and Chairs
    A black and white photograph of a conference room space. A large wooden conference table is surrounded by wood chairs. Large curtained windows allow light to enter from the foreground.
  • Women's Powder Room with Mirrors and Lighting
    A black and white photograph of the Detroit Club's Powder Room for women circa 1950's or 1960's. Tables and chairs arranged for sitting as well as to apply makeup in a large, lit mirror that spans most of the wall.
  • Dining Room with Set Tables and Portrait on Wall
    A black and white photograph of a Detroit Club dining room with set tables and dinnerware. A gold framed portrait can be seen hanging on the wall in the background.
  • Club Sitting Room with Lounging Furniture
    A black and white photograph of a Detroit Club room with lounging furniture for sitting.
  • Main Dining Room with Fireplace on Left
    A black and white photograph of the Main Dining Room of the Detroit Club building. Tables are set to evening dining and taken at night. The Dining Room fireplace is on photograph's right with the Detroit Club logo above the mantel.
  • Furnished Bar with Mounted Moose Heads
    A black and white photograph of the furnished bar. Hanging above two walls are two separate mounted moose heads.
  • Secondary Dining Room with Set Tables in Daylight
    A black and white photograph of a secondary dining space with set tables. Two large but curtained windows allow light to enter the room. Tables are set with white table cloths and have wooden chairs.
  • Main Dining Room and Fireplace Through Double Doors
    A black and white photograph of the Main Dining Room of the Detroit Club building with the fireplace at its center. The photograph is taken during the day with daylight coming through two windows and taken looking through double doors.
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  The Detroit Club's Final Act

After years of declining membership and financial hurdles associated with an aging and flooded building, the Detroit Club Building was sold at auction in December 2013. Housed in the Eastern Michigan University Archives are the remaining documents associated with the original Detroit Club founded in 1882. The current owners of the building have reopened the building and branded a new Detroit social club with a direct connection to the Detroit Club. The original Detroit Club founded by Samuel Douglas and James T. Campbell has no connection to this rebranded "Detroit Club" that opened its doors for the first time in 2018. Following the sale of the Detroit Club Building in December 2013, the remaining members of the Detroit Club, with a direct connection to names like Ford, Chrysler, Packard, and Whitney, dissolved the organization founded nearly 130 years before. Past Detroit Club President John Booth II, responding to concerns that documents were being damaged during renovations, helped secure the transfer of the remaining documents to the EMU Archives for preservation.

Categories

Explore the categories of the Detroit Club Project

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Space and Place

Learn about the physical space and place of the Detroit Club

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Culture

Explore the culture of the Detroit Club through cards, menus and pamphlets

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People

Discover the people who were associated with the Detroit Club

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About

Learn about the background and methodology behind the Detroit Club Project

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