"IF YOU ARE PREPARED, THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR YOU."
- Dr. Violet T. Lewis -
Violet Harrison was born on May 27, 1897 in Lima, Ohio. She was the 2nd child born to William David Harrison and Eva Brown Harrison. After graduating from Lima High School, Violet enrolled in the secretarial program at Wilberforce University, America’s 1st private HBCU. She graduated in 1917 and soon secured her first professional job as secretary to the President of Selma University.
Working at Selma, Lewis had a first hand look at the inner workings of running a college. She noticed the absence of secretarial classes so she requested and received permission to start teaching secretarial subjects in the business department. This was only the beginning…
In the midst of the Great Depression, Violet founded Lewis College of Business formally Lewis Business College for Black women seeking secretary skills. The latter was founded first in Indianapolis in 1928. With a $50 loan, a determined young Lewis bought several used typewriters, and started the Lewis Business College, at one point even running it out of her home. Some of its first graduates landed jobs at companies like Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and Michigan Bell, companies where people of color were not then employed.
Violet was dedicated to preparing young prospects to enter the workforce. She challenged her students to strive for excellence and empowered them to lead the way for others. Beyond employment, she was looking for her students to develop their own businesses. Her formula for success was to employ yourself and at least one other person.
Just as she was preparing the young adults, Violet T. Lewis was also training young children early on. Her granddaughters, Violet and Stefeyne, were amongst many children who learned to type and were exposed to other business skills from their grandmother. “You just didn’t learn how to type and do shorthand. She taught you etiquette,” Violet said.
Dr. Violet Ponders remembers her grandmother having two very distinct sides; there was ‘Mama TV’ as they affectionately called her, and then there was Violet T. Lewis the serious businesswoman, who they knew didn’t repeat her instructions.
Violet Lewis was determined to give her students a well-rounded education, which often included business travel to Lansing and D.C. She also co-founded the Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, offering further chances to network and give back through philanthropy, something very important to her.
Lewis faced many obstacles along her journey that could’ve derailed her progress, but she believed in herself and her people. Facing eviction due to zoning violations filed by the members of the community, Violet turned to her good friend Reverend Horace White for help. Reverend White then called together Attorney Herbert Dudley and Mr. Carlton Gaines of the Great Lakes Mutual Insurance Company to help save Lewis College of Business. They presented the idea of incorporating Lewis Business College as a nonprofit organization, which was permitted by law to operate in that zoned community. This would change the trajectory of the College as history progressed, proving to be one of the better institutional decisions made.
Violet was known to throw the best parties, ones attended by both attorneys and janitors.
Everyone in Lewis’ circle celebrated with her and she was determined to celebrate their successes too.
Violet was known to host parties & gatherings for her students – dancing, serving, and teaching them etiquette. Faculty and alumni became like family and some worked at the college for many years.
Keeping her faith part of her journey, Violet held graduations for the Lewis College of Business at a local church. Over the years thousands of men and women graduated from the school, going on to successful careers in business. Many of them stayed in touch with Lewis.
Dr. Violet T. Lewis received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Wilberforce University. Full circle from the education she received there, she was able to carry her vision through to inspire, empower, and employ a generation of future educators and business owners.
Violet T. Lewis transitioned in 1968, a pivotal year in black history and America. Her vision and legacy lives on ingrained in the fabric of Detroit and burning brightly at the newly reopened college.
