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UW-Milwaukee's Predecessor Institutions.: Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee (1951-1956)

Explains the UWM's predecessor institutions, and explains our relationship to Milwaukee-Downer College. Offers further resources and research suggestions.

For more information

The Archives has student yearbooks, newspapers, and directories, plus archival and manuscript material created during the time of the Wisconsin State College.

Search the library catalog by using the box below to search by keyword or phrase. This search box is already limited to the Archives Department's holdings. Note that these results will include some publications that are available in the Archives, but most of the results will describe archival or manuscript collections.

Search "Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee" with quotation marks.

Note some results will include materials dating before 1951 and after 1956.

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A general search hint: when reading any catalog record, follow the links found at "Subjects" to locate other material in the UWM Libraries on that same subject.

Summary

With the addition of the liberal arts degree in 1951 to Milwaukee State Teacher College's academic programs, the school was no longer just a teacher's college, and changed its named to Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee. During its five years under this name, the college opened a campus laboratory school, a campus elementary school, and a new library. In 1955, the Wisconsin state legislature passed a law combining the Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee with the Milwaukee Extension Division. The result of this merger was the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Construction of the Library (now Bolton Hall), 1953

Timeline

1951 - Wisconsin State Teacher's College in Milwaukee became Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee

1953 - Campus Laboratory School opened

1954 - New library opened

1954 - Campus Elementary School opened

1955 - Faculty members given professional rank

1955 - Legislature passed measure combining Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Extension Division, into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1956.