Parke-Davis Research Laboratory

Theme: Americans at Work Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) Subtheme: Science and Invention UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS ____________TYPE ALL ENTRIES--COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS

I NAME HISTORIC Parke-Davis Research Laboratory AND/OR COMMON

Building 55-Detroit Research

STREET & NUMBER Fooj:.of Joseph Campau at the River -NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Detroit —.VICINITY OF 13th STATE CODE COUNTY CODE . Michigan 26 Wayne 163 ^CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE -_DISTRICT _ PUBLIC XJDCCUPIED _AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM -XBUILDING(S) JCpRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED —COMMERCIAL —PARK —STRUCTURE —BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS — EDUCATIONAL _ PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE —ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS Y —OBJECT _IN PROCESS 1>_YES: RESTRICTED —GOVERNMENT ^SCIENTIFIC —BEING CONSIDERED — YES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION _ NO —MILITARY —OTHER:

OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME * ParKe, Davis and Company, Joseph D. Williams, Pres. and Chief Executive Officer STREET & NUMBER

Foot of Joseph Campau at the River________________________________ CITY, TOWN " ~ STATE"""""""' " •J&£3EffiU^-^_________________ VICINITY OF _______ Michigan LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC Wayne County Registry of Deeds STREET& NUMBER 100 North Fifth Street CITY, TOWN STATE

Detroit Michigan REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE

Michigan State Register of Historic Places DATE

1974 -FEDERAL JfeTATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Michigan History Division, Department of State CITY, TOWN STATE

Lansing________________________________ Michigan DESCRIPTION CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE _XEXCELLENT ..DETERIORATED _XUNALTERED .XORIGINALSITE _GOOD _RUINS __ALTERED __MOVED DATE_____ _FAIR —UNEXPOSED

———————————DESCRIBETHE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Building Number 55, Detroit Research, as Parke, Davis, and Company today calls its Detroit research facility, is a three story brick building measuring approximately 120' x 40'. The building was constructed in 1902. The architect and builder are unknown. The building is an example of public architecture of the period. It is not noted in architectural surveys of important Detroit properties. Detroit Research was the first industrial laboratory in the United States built for the specific purpose of conducting pharmacological research. The large number of bays, approximately 27, are conducive to well lighted working areas in the laboratories. The sandstone arched main entrance is the most interesting feature of the building. The rhythmic repetition of the coining is an additional interesting feature as is the small cupola with its onion dome. Over all the building presents a well built and sold appearance. All three floors on the interior are divided into laboratories and offices. Although the interior partioning has undergone changes over the years, no significant alterations have taken place. The original Parke-Davis research laboratory was built on the site of the present building in approximately 1873. This building was torn down when the present facility was constructed. Detroit Research has functioned as a research facility from 1902 to the present day. In 1941 an addition was made to the building by attaching a wing to the north end. Architecturally the wing harmonizes with the main structure. With the exception of the addition of the wing the main structure has undergone no alteration since its construction.  01 SIGNIFICANCE

PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW —PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —COMMUNITY PLANNING —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE —RELIGION _1400-1499 _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC —CONSERVATION —LAW X-SCIENCE _1500-1599 _AGRICULTURE —ECONOMICS —LITERATURE —SCULPTURE _1600-1699 _ARCHITECTURE —EDUCATION —MILITARY —SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN —1700-1799 _ART _ENGINEERING —MUSIC —THEATER ^1800-1899 _COMMERCE —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT —PHILOSOPHY —TRANSPORTATION ^J£>1 900- —COMMUNICATIONS —INDUSTRY —POLITICS/GOVERNMENT —OTHER (SPECIFY) —INVENTION

SPECIFIC DATES 1902 to present BUILDER/ARCHITECT unknown

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Pharmacology, the study of the changes produced in animals by chemical substances and especially the study of drugs used in treating diseases, has long been an important area of pure or basic science research. In the United States the development of pharmacological research began after the Civil War in the medical schools and in the laboratories associated with the drug companies. Along with the electrical and chemical industries the drug companies were among the first industries to introduce the pursuit of basic research as company policy. The industrial leader in the development of pharmacological research in the United States was Parke, Davis, and ComeDpny of Detroit, Michigan. When in 1902 Parke- Davis built the first industrial laboratory devoted exclusively to pharmacological research, the facility marked the institutionalization of a pure science research activity which has been responsible for many of the "wonder drugs" that are today taken for granted. Parke, Davis, and Company Park, Davis, and Company was born October 26, 1866, in a small drugstore in Detroit, Michigan. The founders of the company were Dr. Samuel P. Duffield, a local physician and pharmacist who also manufactured drugs, and Hervey C. Parke, a successful hardware merchant. In 1867 George S. Davis, a businessman with experience in the wholesale drug business, joined the company. In 1869 Dr. Duffield retired and sold his interest to Dr. A. F. Jennings, the firm becoming Parke, Jennings, and Company. Dr. Jennings took charge of manufacturing, but after only two years he left the business. On November 16, 1871, the firm assumed the name of Parke, Davis, and Company. Between 1866 and 1876 the young company faced many financial difficulties which were met by borrowing from Detroit capitalists. Parke-Davis grew slowly during its first decade, reinvesting its small earnings in new facilities. In 1876 the books showed a profit for the first time and in 1877 the first dividend was declared. Parke-Davis has been a financial success since that time. From its beginning in a small drugstore in Detroit the company has grown to become one of the country's major drug manufacturing companies. Today the company is made up of plants and laboratories in all sections of the United States and in many foreign countries. Its interests range from pure science basic research to the production of drugs and other medical and health related products.  IMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES William H. Haynes, ed., American Chemical Industry, 6, (New York, 1949). "Industrial Research," Research- A National Resource, (Washington, 1941). Parke-Davis at 100, n.a., (Detroit, 1966).

[^GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ ] acre UTM REFERENCES

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LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

STATE CODE COUNTY CODE

STATE CODE COUNTY CODE

FORM PREPARED BY NAME /TITLE

James Sheire, Historian ORGANIZATION DATE

National Park Service - Historic Sites Survey 1/27/76 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE

1100 L Street NW. CITY OR TOWN STATE

Washington D.C. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OFTHIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL _JL STATE___ LOCAL

As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1 966 (Public Law 89-665), i hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE

TITLE DATE Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OE THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM Parke-Davis Research Laboratory

CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER o O PAGE o £*

Parke-Davis pharmacological research activities date to 1869. At that time the production of new medicinals meant only one thing, namely the discovery and application of previously unknown vegetable drugs. Every new plant mentioned in a technical publication as having potential medicinal value was immediately investigated by the competing drug companies. Parke-Davis was a pioneer in the search for new vegetable drugs. In these years, when the West was still "wild," company representatives explored British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Mexico for new plants. Explorers were sent to the West Indies and as far away as the Fiji Islands. In 1885 Dr. Henry H. Rusby made an extensive botanical exploration in South America for Parke-Davis. Nearly fifty new drugs were added to the materia medica from these investigations Although plant drugs have now been largely abandoned, a few are still listed in the United States Pharmacopia. A side benefit of these research activities was the accumulation of an extensive herbarium and a fine botanical library, which Parke-Davis eventually gave to the University of Michigan.

The year 1879 marked the beginning of one of Parke-Davis' most significant research contributions to pharmacology. Before 1879 fluidextracts, tinctures, and extracts of many potent vegetable drugs, as well as the drugs themselves, had varied in strength from valueless to dangerously potent. Because weight of the drug or measure of the fluidextract were the sole criteria of strength, no one knew the differences in strength until the drug was actually used on a patient. In September 1879 for the first time Parke-Davis offered a liquid drug preparation which had been adjusted to a uniform standard by mean