Joseph Nathaniel French
American architect, 1888 to 1975, born in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Designer of the Fisher Building, the building that went up in Detroit's New Center in 1928, a National Historic Landmark since 1989. Fair Lane, Dearborn (1913), is the other French work on record here.
Every French building here, side by side
Both of French's works on record, oldest at left. None has a height on record, so each is drawn at one standard size in the shape of its kind.
Both of French's works on record, oldest at left. None has a height on record, so each is drawn at one standard size in the shape of its kind.
Fisher Building
1928, Detroit, height not on record, drawn at one standard size
Still standing, photographed 2021
Open its page- Standing
- Tap or point at a building
The story
Joseph Nathaniel French lived from 1888 to 1975, a life that began in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., and Wikidata describes French as an American architect. The Fisher Building heads French's work in Metro Detroit, a building in Detroit's New Center, finished in 1928 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
Both Fair Lane and the Fisher Building still stand. French's work here stands in Dearborn and Detroit. In Detroit, French's work stands in New Center.
French's Metro Detroit work on record runs from Fair Lane in 1913 to the Fisher Building in 1928, 15 years. Albert Kahn is credited beside French on the Fisher Building.
On the Fisher Building, French shares credit with Albert Kahn Associates. Fair Lane at 4901 Evergreen Rd is a good first stop for anyone tracing French's buildings.
Joseph Nathaniel French, Sr. (October 24, 1888, February 28, 1975) was an architect with Albert Kahn Associates from 1914 to 1967. He was the chief architect for the Fisher Building in Detroit, Michigan.
Joseph Nathaniel French in Metro Detroit, oldest first
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Fair Lane
1913, Dearborn, Building
Still standing, photographed 2024
Photo: Dave Parker, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Fisher Building
1928, Detroit's New Center, Building
Still standing, photographed 2021
Photo: KovacsDaniel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Where their buildings stand
2 works on the map
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- Standing
- Demolished
- Altered
- 4Works close together
2 works on the map
Who French worked with
- Albert Kahn on the Fisher Building
- Albert Kahn Associates on the Fisher Building
- Frank Lloyd Wright on Fair Lane
- Jens Jensen on Fair Lane
- Joseph N. French on Fair Lane
- Marion Mahony Griffin on Fair Lane
Where the work stands
Photo credits
All 3 photos on Joseph Nathaniel French's page, each with its author, license and the original.
- Fisher Building (Detroit), 2016 Photo: KovacsDaniel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Nathaniel French I in 1931 in Moscow with the background removed Photo: AnonymousUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fair Lane, Henry Ford Estate, Dearborn, Southwest side, 2008 Photo: Dave Parker, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
The facts on Joseph Nathaniel French come from Wikidata, Wikipedia, and Photos; Rebuild Detroit wrote the story above from them, and each photo names its license.