Appleton in Outagamie County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Merging of Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence Colleges
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 16, 2014
1. The Merging of Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence Colleges Marker
south side of two sided marker.
Lawrence University, chartered on January 15, 1847, was the first college in Wisconsin founded as a coeducational institution. Preparatory classes began in 1849; college classes began in 1853. The first collegiate class of seven students – four men and three women – graduated in 1857.
Milwaukee College was founded as a women’s college in 1851 under the guidance of Catharine Beecher. The Wisconsin Female College, later renamed Downer College for Judge Jason Downer, was founded at Fox Lake in 1854. These two colleges merged in Milwaukee in 1895 to form Milwaukee-Downer College.
The Milwaukee–Downer campus was purchased by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1964, and Milwaukee-Downer College consolidated with Lawrence College, as it was then known. Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence colleges thus combined to form today’s Lawrence University.
Erected 2014 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 554.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education.
this page online
Location. 44° 15.698′ N, 88° 23.752′ W. Marker is in Appleton, Wisconsin, in Outagamie County. Marker is at the intersection of East College Avenue and South Meade Street, on the right when traveling east on East College Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 710 East College Avenue, Appleton WI 54911, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lawrence University (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vulcan Street Plant Replica (approx. ¼ mile away); First Edison Hydroelectric System in America (approx. ¼ mile away); 9-11 Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Commercially Successful Electric Street Railway (approx. 0.6 miles away); Number 736 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Henry James and Cremora Rogers Residence (approx. 1.1 miles away); Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Appleton.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . . Lawrence University History. University website
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 16, 2014
2. The Merging of Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence Colleges Marker
North side (street side) of two sided marker.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 16, 2014
3. The Merging of Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence Colleges Marker
Hurvis Center administration building in background.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 16, 2014
4. The Merging of Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence Colleges Marker
Looking east along College Avenue.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 16, 2014
5. The Merging of Milwaukee-Downer and Lawrence Colleges Marker
Looking west along College Avenue.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2014, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 18, 2014, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • William J. Toman was the editor who published this page.
