West Division High School (WDHS) was originally established in 1858, but closed just
two years later along with all other high schools in the city. It was recreated in
1894 as the ‘West Side High School’ temporarily housed in Public Library Building on
the corner of Fourth St. and Grand Ave. Construction on a permanent building on
Prairie St. between 22nd and 23rd Streets began in 1895. Later in 1958 a new
structure was built, across Highland Boulevard to the other side of the street. In
1984 it was transformed into a school for the arts and was renamed The Milwaukee
High School of the Arts.
A significant portion of the records began with the 50th reunion of WDHS class of
1929, who invited grads from 1927-1930. Historian Alice Reichert Thompson had been
collecting information on grads which the reunion committee used to locate
classmates. More records were added over time by members of two alumni social groups
with reunions of their own.
