“Determination against all odds.” That’s the spirit behind the Lewis College of Business Plaque. This plaque commemorates a Detroit institution that defied expectations. Violet T. Lewis founded Lewis College of Business in 1928. It was the start of the Great Depression.
Lewis began with a mere $50 loan. She established Michigan’s only Historically Black College. The Lewis College of Business offered opportunities in higher education. It served qualified applicants. The college provided a business-related curriculum. Studies included Computer Information, Business Administration, and Office Information Systems.
Lewis College of Business aimed to grant degrees. The academic program focused on technical business skills. Students also learned skills to become world citizens. Lewis College of Business offered education in Liberal Arts. They had three career areas. These were Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, and Office Information Systems. The academic programs combined theory with practical instruction. Over its 70 years, Lewis College saw many students. Over 2,500 students graduated. Close to 27,000 attended the institution.
Many alumni entered the workforce after graduation. Others continued their education. Lewis College of Business emphasized continued growth through education. Alumni earned Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees.
At the height of the Great Depression, jobs were scarce. This was especially true for African Americans. They had moved to northern cities. Violet Lewis, a bookkeeper, was concerned. She saw many unemployed Black youths. At the time, higher education schools often excluded African Americans. So in 1928, Lewis started teaching secretarial work at her home.
The school grew and moved to a storefront. Tuition was $2.50 per week. Twenty to 25 students attended. Lewis became a local media figure. She even hosted a popular radio show.
In 1939, Lewis College opened a Detroit branch. It was on West Warren Street. It became the first business school in the city to accept African American students. Lewis closed the Indianapolis location in 1940. She focused on the Detroit branch. The school expanded to over 300 daily students. It moved to Ferry Street near Wayne State University. White residents sued to close the school in 1942. They claimed it was a business in a residential area. Lewis converted the college into a nonprofit. The case was dismissed.
Lewis Business College taught typewriting and bookkeeping. Students learned stenography and office management. Graduates found jobs at major companies. These included General Motors, Ford, and Michigan Bell. They also worked for the city of Detroit. Another branch opened in Cleveland, Ohio in 1960. It was also the first business school in that city to accept African American students.
In 1976, Lewis Business College moved to Meyers Road. This was the former Detroit Bible Institute campus. The Cleveland and Detroit branches merged in 1978. They became the Lewis College of Business. It became a full junior college. Enrollment peaked in the 1980s. There were 550 students. In 1987, it gained HBCU designation. By 2003, over 40,000 students had attended.
Lewis College of Business had to close in 2013. But on December 29, 2021, a bill was signed to reopen the school. Today, the Lewis College of Business Plaque stands as a symbol. It represents perseverance, opportunity, and the enduring legacy.