Pyramid Club (Philadelphia)
The Pyramid Club was formed in November 1937 by African-American professionals for the "cultural, civic and social advancement of Negroes in Philadelphia." By the 1950s, it was "Philadelphia's leading African-American social club."
| Formation | November 1937 |
|---|---|
| Type | Private Club |
| Legal status | Private Social Club |
| Purpose | Art gallery, Meeting space |
| Location |
|
Region served | Philadelphia metropolitan area |
Key people | Walter Fitzgerald Jerrick, Lewis Tanner Moore, Humbert Lincoln Howard, and Oscar James Cooper |
Between 1940 and 1957, the club's building at 1517 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, was a center for social and cultural life. Because African-Americans were barred from many clubs and restaurants, the Pyramid Club had its own bar and restaurant. It hosted parties, social events, concerts by noted musicians such as Marian Anderson and Duke Ellington, speakers including Martin Luther King Jr. and J. Robert Oppenheimer, and an annual art exhibition (1941–1957) featuring both local and national artists.
The Pyramid Club was the only exhibition space in Philadelphia at the time that was owned, operated and controlled by African-Americans. The club played an important role within the African-American community by connecting artists with middle and upper-class professionals able to support their work.
The Pyramid Club dissolved in 1963. It has been commemorated with a historical marker by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.