Milwaukee-Downer College was a pioneering institution for women’s education, continuing Milwaukee Female College’s close association with pioneering educator Catharine Beecher. In 1889, Wisconsin Female College changed its name to Downer College, in honor of Judge Jason Downer, associate justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, its trustee and benefactor. Two strong presidents led Milwaukee-Downer through most of its history, Ellen Clara Sabin, from 1895 to 1921, and Lucia Russell Briggs, from 1921 to 1951.
In 1964, Downer’s 43-acre eastside Milwaukee campus was sold to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and 49 female students and 21 faculty members transferred to Lawrence. Forty-four of the original 49 Milwaukee-Downer students eventually earned bachelor’s degrees from Lawrence, and 11 of the faculty members remained at Lawrence until retirement.
To learn more about the history of Milwaukee-Downer College, check out The Milwaukee-Downer Woman, published by Lawrence University press in 1997, Times and Traditions: Milwaukee-Downer College, 1848-1964, or Milwaukee-Downer College photos in the archives.
