Murray Bros. Printing Co.

The Murray Brothers Printing Company, located at 920-922 U St., NW., Washington, DC, 20001. Was home to The Washington Tribune newspaper and steps away from the entrepreneurial F.H.M Murray’s other business, the Murray Palace Casino. Addison Scurlock, Photographer

The three Murray brothers, part of an enterprising family, ran a successful printing business in the early 20th century, a lucrative trade in the nation's capital where the chief local business – governing – required enormous amounts of printed materials. The brothers also ran a successful ballroom, Murray's Palace Casino, in the same building. The building was designed by African American architect, Isaiah T. Hatton.

Brothers Raymond, Morris, and Norman opened Murray Brothers Printing in 1908 with the support of their father, Freeman Henry Morris Murray. They published books, programs, and brochures. In 1921 they began publishing the Washington Tribune, which became the city's major black newspaper after the Washington Bee folded in 1922. At peak circulation, the Tribune printed 30,000 copies a day on the brothers' modern Goss printing press.

I'm not certain when the business closed but I know through old newspaper articles that it was still up and running in the District in 1980.

The Murray's other business the Palace Casino was one of the most popular clubs on U Street in the 1920s and 1930s. Social clubs vied to hold their annual balls and dances here.