UWM Post

12/22/2025

During my research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, I sorted through hundreds of photos that were taken in Milwaukee-Downer College. Many of them were labeled which helped with placing them in a certain building.

However, many of them were not labeled and I had to use context clues to identify which building they took place in. These are the photos that I was not able to identify using labels and context clues.

During my research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, I sorted through hundreds of photos that were taken in Milwaukee-Downer College. Many of them were labeled which helped with placing them in a certain building.However, many of them were not labeled and I had to use context clues....

12/19/2025

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives has a collection of the blueprints of many of UWM’s existing and demolished buildings. Here is a collection of the blueprints for the Milwaukee-Downer College Buildings.

The Milwaukee-Downer College Buildings were designed by several different architects. Many of these blueprints were designed by the architects while others were designed by different companies who were tasked with the foundation, electrical, and HVAC.

When UWM acquired the downer buildings, a study was done in May of 1965 to record the current conditions of the buildings and make recommendations for their use.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives has a collection of the blueprints of many of UWM's existing and demolished buildings. Here is a collection of the blueprints for the Milwaukee-Downer College Buildings.

12/17/2025

Throughout Milwaukee-Downer College’s lifetime, many maps, aerial photos and postcards were made for the college, showing it's progression through the years.

Throughout Milwaukee-Downer College's lifetime, many maps of the college were produced showing the college's progression through the years.

12/16/2025

A new building to house the music department was funded with a $10,000 gift from Mr. And Mrs. Frederick Sivyer. The music hall was designed by Alexander Eschweiler, and completed in February of 1907. It was named Albert Memorial Hall after the Sivyer’s son Albert Edward.

https://uwmpost.com/special-projects/milwaukee-downer-college-smaller-buildings

12/15/2025

Throughout the college’s existence, they received several private collections. The largest and most renowned collection received was the Thomas A. Greene geological collection which contained about 75,000 specimens of minerals and fossils, especially fossils from the Silurian and Devonian periods.

Throughout the college’s existence, they received several private collections. The largest and most renowned collection received was the Thomas A. Greene geological collection which contained about 75,000 specimens of minerals and fossils, especially fossils from the Silurian and Devonian periods.

12/14/2025

Milwaukee-Downer College was a pioneer in educating women in the sciences. In the spring of 1901, the college catalogue announced that they would add Domestic Science classes which would be housed in two rooms in the basement of Merrill Hall.

Milwaukee-Downer College was a pioneer in educating women in the sciences. In the spring of 1901, the college catalogue announced that they would add Domestic Science classes which would be housed in two rooms in the basement of Merrill Hall.

12/13/2025

In Merrill Hall, at the east end of the second floor the first library was established by Mrs. Horace A. J. Upham. It was named the Greene Memorial Library in honor of her mother Elizabeth L. Greene, one of the original trustees of Milwaukee Female College. It held about 4000 volumes. An adjacent room was used for the Art Library assembled by the Ladies’ Art and Science Class.

In Merrill Hall, at the east end of the second floor the first library was established by Mrs. Horace A. J. Upham. It was named the Greene Memorial Library in honor of her mother Elizabeth L. Greene, one of the original trustees of Milwaukee Female College. It held about 4000 volumes. An adjacent ro...

12/12/2025

In 1909, plans were underway for a new Seminary campus across the street from the college buildings. The estimated cost of these buildings and their furnishings was $155,000. Alice Chapman helped fund the construction, and the main building was named Chapman Hall in her honor. The dormitory was built in a similar style to Holton Hall and named Vogel Hall after Louise Pfister Vogel.

In 1909, plans were underway for a new Seminary campus across the street from the college buildings. The estimated cost of these buildings and their furnishings was $155,000. Alice Chapman helped fund the construction, and the main building was named Chapman Hall in her honor.

12/11/2025

Milwaukee-Downer College had several dormitory buildings to house their large student population. The dormitory buildings were designed by Alexander Eschweiler and Howland Russell in collaboration.

Milwaukee-Downer College had several dormitory buildings to house their large student population. The dormitory buildings were designed by Alexander Eschweiler and Howland Russell in collaboration.

12/10/2025

The first instruction building for Milwaukee-Downer College was named Merrill Hall after Mr. William P. Merrill who gave $10,000 for the construction of the building. The building was designed by Alexander Eschweiler and Howland Russell in collaboration, and the cornerstone was laid on June 16, 1898.

The first instruction building for Milwaukee-Downer College was named Merrill Hall after Mr. William P. Merrill who gave $10,000 for the construction of the building. The building was designed by Alexander Eschweiler and Howland Russell in collaboration, and the cornerstone was laid on June 16, 1898...

12/09/2025

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is an amalgamation of old and new buildings. In particular, the red-brick buildings on the northeastern portion of campus always stood out to me. UWM purchased these buildings from Milwaukee-Downer Female College when they merged with Lawrence College in Appleton.

Milwaukee-Downer College built many buildings throughout the lifetime of the college including the main instruction building, three seminary buildings, three dormitories, two libraries, two science buildings, a geological museum, and many smaller buildings.

Beginning in 1947-48 there was an ominous decline in student enrollment at Milwaukee Downer College. Starting in 1952, increasing student enrollments at UWM caused them to seek additional space for academic buildings, dormitories, and parking.

UWM purchased the Seminary property in 1959 for $1,550,000. While Milwaukee Downer College was facing a decline in student enrollment, there were still plans to build several new buildings including a new dormitory to accommodate the expected enrollment boom.

However, that expected enrollment boom would never come. Two members of the Downer board of trustees were also on the board of trustees for Lawrence College in Appleton, and they alerted the Lawrence board of Downer’s predicament and possible interest in merging.

UWM purchased the remaining buildings and 43 acres of land on the Downer campus for 10 million dollars in 1964. When UWM acquired the downer buildings, a study was done in May of 1965 to record the current conditions of the buildings and make recommendations for their use.

When the studies were completed, several buildings were demolished. In the midst of all this demolition, it was unclear what UWM planned to do with the rest of the Downer buildings.

On November 1st, 1974, UWM announced through a press release that they had made a decision. The completed studies reported that it would actually be less costly to preserve the Milwaukee-Downer College buildings than to construct new buildings in order to obtain the same amount of space.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is an amalgamation of old and new buildings. As a student, I had always wondered how UWM came to possess these buildings, and what the story behind them was.

12/09/2025

BREAKING NEWS! The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's independent student publication, The UWM Post just released our first feature-length documentary! Here's 5 reasons why you should check it out:

NUMBER 1: This documentary is the final episode of the docuseries we've been working on for the last year, UWM Urban Spelunking, which covers historic buildings on UWM's campus. If you've been following this series, this is the culmination of all of our hard work!

NUMBER 2: If you are a student or alumni of UWM or Lawrence University, this documentary covers the complete history of three institutions; Wisconsin Female College, Milwaukee Female College, and Milwaukee-Downer College which all led to the expansion of both UWM and Lawrence University.

NUMBER 3: If you want to be immersed in UWM's history, this documentary also features HUNDREDS of never-before-seen historic images from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives.

NUMBER 4: If you're a fan of , this documentary covers the history of every Milwaukee-Downer College building, with an exclusive tour of each building focusing on places not usually accessible to the public. We also got to interview Milwaukee's resident expert on urban spelunking, Bobby Tanzilo!

NUMBER 5: If you're a fan of ghost stories and haunted buildings, we asked staff members of every building for their scariest encounters! Then we dove into UWM's past to see if there was any evidence of these buildings being haunted.

"The History of the Milwaukee-Downer College Buildings" is available to watch right now for free on our Youtube Channel. We are also planning a small theatrical release with more news to come soon!

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is an amalgamation of old and new buildings. As a student, I had always wondered how UWM came to possess these building...