The Detroit Historical Society (DHS) was founded in December, 1921 with prominent Detroit historian Clarence M. Burton, its first president. Initially a literary society bent on studying and discussing Detroit history, its direction changed in 1927 when under the leadership of one the DHS directors, J. Bell Moran, the Society founded the Detroit Historical Museum (DHM).
Since the first museum opened in the Barlum Tower as "Detroit's best kept secret," prominent Detroiters as trustees of the Society and the public have added to the collection until today, it has over 200,000 items.
However, by the late 1930s the Society had become more of a social club than a historical Society. In 1941, the Society recruited The Detroit News columnist George Stark into membership. It was later said the DHS was seeking mention in Stark's daily column, but "what they got was George instead." With J. Bell Moran being called into government service due to the war, George Stark took over the leadership of the DHS and instituted a building campaign in 1942.
By this time, the Museum was in the former Homer Wiliams home on Merrick Street across from what is now the Cass Avenue entrance to the Detroit Public Library. The Williams home, where future Michigan Governor G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams grew up, has been replaced by part of the Wayne State University Campus.
After a 1946 referendum spearheaded by the DHS and the City of Detroit, the City of Detroit Historical Commission was created to manage the Detroit Historical Museum. The Detroit Historical Society turned its collection and sizable building fund over to the city and assumed the role of being the principal outside financial backer to the museum.
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