About the Collection
The digital collections document the history of Lawrence University and Milwaukee-Downer College, the latter an all women’s college that consolidated with Lawrence in 1964. Digitized items were chosen based on their condition, frequency of use of their physical formats, and their representation of the history of the two colleges.
Many of the photographs in the collection are unidentified. If you know the names of the people in any of the photographs, please contact the University Archivist.
Items in the Collection
Annual Great Midwest Trivia Contest Collection
The collection is comprised of press relapses, photographs, posters, and other ephemera documenting the Midwest Trivia Contest, a tradition at Lawrence University since 1966. A history of the contest is also provided.
The Artist Series at Lawrence, 1908-2008
In honor of the centennial of the Artist Series, this collection contains programs, announcements and reviews of concerts, and photographs. The Artist Series was created in 1908 by William Harper, dean of the Conservatory of Music. Chronological listing of items
Founding of Lawrence University
This collection contains correspondence and photographs documenting the creation and early days of Lawrence University from 1846-1898.
Freshman and Sophomore Class Rivalry Poster Collection
Posters documenting the rivalry between Freshman and Sophomore classes at Lawrence from 1914-1920 are included in the collection.
Lawrence University Current Buildings Collection
Alexander Gymnasium II Collection
Photographs, correspondence, and programs document this collection on Lawrence's current gymnasium. Alexander Gymnasium II was built in 1929.
Photographs, correspondence, and programs document this collection on Memorial Chapel that was built in 1918.
Photographs, correspondence, and programs document this collection on Memorial Union that was built in 1951. The Union was built as a memorial to Lawrence students who died in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and the two World Wars.
Lawrence University Buildings of the Past Collection
Photographs document the history of the Academy, Lawrence's first building. The Academy, also known as the Lawrence Institute, was built in 1849 and destroyed by fire in 1857.
Alexander Gymnasium I Collection
Photographs document the history of Lawrence's first Alexander Gymnasium, built in 1901 and named in honor of Lewis M. Alexander, the president of Lawrence's Board of Trustees. The gymnasium stood where Youngchild Hall is today and was razed in 1963 to make room for Youngchild Hall.
Barracks and Quonsets Collection
Photographs document the history of these housing units that were built on the Lawrence campus in 1946 for World War II veterans attending Lawrence and their families. Located next to Memorial Chapel and Carnegie Library, the facilities were razed around 1955.
Photographs, programs, and correspondence document the history of Carnegie Library, Lawrence's first library building that stood where the Seeley G. Mudd Library is today. Named in honor of Andrew Carnegie, the library was razed in 1974 to make room for the Mudd Library.
Photographs document the history of Hamar Union, the first Lawrence union that stood where Plantz Hall is today. Named in honor of Lawrence student Olive Hamar, Hamar Union served as the union from 1926 until Memorial Union was completed in 1951. Hamar Union was razed in 1960.
Peabody Hall of Music Collection
Photographs document the history of Peabody Hall, home of Lawrence's Conservatory of Music from 1909 when it was built until 1959 when it was razed after the Music-Drama Center was built. Peabody Hall stood where the Appleton downtown YMCA is today and was named in honor of George Peabody.
Stephenson Hall of Science Collection
Photographs document the history of Stephenson Hall of Science that was built in 1898 and razed in 1998. Stephenson Hall stood where the current Science Hall is and was named in honor of Isaac Stephenson.
Underwood Observatory Collection
Photographs document the history of this building that was named in honor of L. Wesley Underwood, professor of Astronomy and Mathematics. The observatory, located where Youngchild Hall of Science currently is, was completed in 1891 and razed in 1963.
Worcester Art Center Collection
Photographs and other items document the history of this building that was located where Wriston Art Center currently is. Worcester Art Center was completed in 1950 and razed in 1987.
Lawrence University Houses of the Past Collection
Lawrence University Yearbooks Collection, 1893-
A collection of Lawrence University yearbooks beginning with the earliest yearbook, the Lawrence Souvenir that was done in 1893.
Milwaukee-Downer College Collection
Photographs, correspondence, artifacts, and other items document the all-women's college that merged with Lawrence University in 1964.
Oral Histories of Alumni Collection
Audio files and transcripts of interviews done with alumni are contained in the collection. The oral history project began during Reunion Weekend of June 2006.
Plantz, Samuel, Collection Of Lawrence University President
The collection is comprised of correspondence, publications, and photographs that document the presidency of Samuel Plantz, president of Lawrence University from 1894-1924.
Wriston, Henry Merritt, Files Of Lawrence University President
The collection is comprised of correspondence, speeches, and photographs that document the presidency of Henry Merritt Wriston, president of Lawrence University from 1925-1937.