Katz Hall

The Isaac Katz Memorial Pharmacy Building, or Katz Hall as commonly known, was built from 1961 to 1965 as a new home to the UMKC School of Pharmacy. The building is named in honor of Isaac Katz (1879-1956), founder of the locally famous Katz Drugstore chain, which had over twenty locations in the Kansas City Area throughout the mid-20th century. The building was partially financed by an initial gift of $600,000 given to the university in 1961 by Isaac's brother and business partner, Michael Katz. The building was home to UMKC's School of Pharmacy from 1965-2008. Today, the mid-century modern campus building is home to UMKC's Department of Architecture and Urban Planning & Design.

UMKC's School of Pharmacy traces its origins as a department of the defunct Kansas City Medical College, founded in 1885. The former pharmacy department became an independent school in 1888 and operated out of a small building at 1721 Baltimore. The Great Depression led to a decline in the school's funds, and the start of the Second World War led to a decline in enrollment. Facing potential closure, pharmacy college owners Minnie and David Whitney decided to merge with the University of Kansas City (UMKC today). The UKC School of Pharmacy first operated in the university's new Chemistry-Biology Building. In 1948, the school moved to an old army barracks, one of five surplus army buildings the university acquired and reconstructed on the Volker Campus to support the postwar enrollment boom that resulted when millions of veterans used the GI Bill for collegiate education or vocational training.

In 1961, Michael Katz donated $600,000 to the University of Kansas City in memory of his brother and business partner Issac Katz. Given the Katz family's role as the owners of the city's largest chain of pharmacies, Isaac made the donation to support a much-needed facility for the School of Pharmacy. However, Michael Katz's gift arrived at a time of deep financial trouble for the University of Kansas City. The School of Pharmacy, which had operated in the old army barracks for over a decade, demanded that the university immediately begin construction on the new building. The university's administration was hesitant, knowing that the donation alone would not be enough.

When the alumni of the School of Pharmacy joined in pressuring the university's administration and pledged to raise an additional $100,000, the university reluctantly began construction at 50th and Rockhill. However, in less than one year, the funding ran out, and the unfinished Katz Hall was left less than half finished for the next three years. During that time, the University of Kansas City merged with the University of Missouri System, and eventually, the MU System Board of Curators approved the funding to complete Katz Hall in 1965.

The School of Pharmacy operated in Katz Hall until 2008 when it moved to the Health Sciences Building at UMKC's Hospital Hill Campus. In 2010, the building was renovated and became the new home of UMKC's Department of Architecture and Urban Planning & Design, which relocated from Epperson House. The Katz family's philanthropy included support of several Jewish institutions in Kansas City, including Menorah Hospital.

The family fortune that led to the construction of this building dates back to 1890 when Isaac Katz immigrated to Minnesota with his family. He began peddling newspapers and candy at railroad stations when he was 13, which eventually brought him and his brother Michael Katz to Kansas City. The brothers set up small fruit stands near Kansas City's train station and eventually saved enough money to open two small cigar shops.

During the First World War, a nationwide decree prohibited shops from staying open past 6pm. When the Katz brothers learned that pharmacies were exempt from the decree, they hired pharmacists and set up small sections of medicine in their shops. This was the genesis of the Katz Drug Stores. The Katz Pharmacies grew quickly and became precursors of today's variety and big box stores, which sell a huge selection of merchandise in addition to medicine. At its peak, there were over twenty locations in Kansas City and stores in St. Louis, St. Joseph, Sioux City, Des Moines, Memphis, and Oklahoma City. Katz stores in Des Moines and Oklahoma City were the sites of some of the first civil rights protests against segregation at lunch counters.

"K.C.U. Pharmacy Gift." Kansas City Star (Kansas City) 11/03/1961 , 11-12.

Coleman, Daniel. Isaac Katz: Owner of Katz Drug Stores, KCHistory.org. January 1st, 2007. Accessed September 8th, 2024. https://kchistory.org/document/biography-isaac-katz-1879-1956-owner-katz-drug-stores.

"College of Pharmacy Merges with KCU." The University News (Kansas City) September 3rd, 1943. , 1-1.

"Pharmacy School Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies April 25th." The University News (Kansas City) April 2nd, 1965. , 1-1.