The University of Wisconsin – Madison International Club was founded in 1903 to create opportunities for students of all nationalities to socialize and develop mutual understanding. By the early 1950s the club had 300 student members, half from the United States and half from countries around the world. Club activities including costume balls, picnics, scenic tours, and cultural dinners were open to members and non-members alike. The club hosted an annual costume ball, a speakers' bureau where foreign students presented about their homelands, language lessons, and various social events.
