Herman Miller was founded in 1905 as the Star Furniture Co. in Zeeland, Michigan Initially the company produced high quality furniture, especially bedroom suites, in historic revival styles. In 1909, Dirk Jan De Pree began working for the company as a clerk, and became its president by 1919, when it was renamed the Michigan Star Furniture Co De Pree and his father-in-law, Herman Miller, purchased 51% of the company stock in 1923 and renamed it the Herman Miller Furniture Company.  The company reformed as Herman Miller, Inc. in 1960.^[2