The earliest attempt to establish of a health board/department in Milwaukee happened
in 1843. Three local doctors voluntarily organized an unofficial board of health to
help manage a severe outbreak of small pox. They took charge of the first isolation
hospital. Milwaukee incorporated into a City in January of 1846 and between that
time and 1867 there were several attempts to establish an official board of health.
It, generally, consisted of a mix of physicians, medical association members, common
council members and/or the mayor. It was often organized to deal with a specific
health-related event such as vaccinations or disease outbreaks. Many physicians
during this time also raised concerns regarding sanitary conditions in the City.
A permanent Milwaukee Board of Health was finally established in 1867 by the State of
Wisconsin after years of lobbying by local Milwaukee physicians. Dr. James Johnson,
was the first elected president of the Board and served for 10 years (1867-1877).
During his tenure he advocated for smallpox case reporting requirements, vaccination
improvements, and the construction of improved water and sewage systems. In 1876,
the State of Wisconsin was the 10th state to establish its own Board of Health.
After Johnson, in 1877, H. C. Hobart became the 2nd president of the Milwaukee Board
of Health and Dr. I. H. Stearns was appointed the Health Officer for a 1-year term.
In 1878, the City of Milwaukee created the Office of the Commissioner of Health. It
consisted of one appointed Commissioner and some staff assistants. It took the place
of the Board of Health/Health Officer and the Commissioner was to be a 2-year term.
Dr. O. W. Wight was appointed the first Commissioner and in 1880 was reappointed for
a 2nd term. By 1882 the Commissioner's term was extended to 4 years and employed six
staff. Over the years, as with many city departments, the name of the
department/office varied and expanded. The Office of the Commissioner of Health
began being shortened to just Commissioner of Health. Then, as early as 1910s, the
department began to be referred to as the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD),
continuing with the Commissioner of Health as its governing officer.
In its infancy, the Department examined food and milk, inspected packinghouses, and
curbed the free running of livestock, disposing of garbage in the street, and the
practice of scavenging. The Department also had emergency powers to use public and
private buildings as hospitals. Between 1929 and 1942 Milwaukee regularly won (4
times) or placed second (3 times) in a Nation Health Contest for cities sponsored by
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In five of those yearly contests Milwaukee was
actually barred from competing in order to allow other cities a chance to win.
Today, the Mayor of Milwaukee continues to appoint the Commissioner of Health to a
four-year term. The Common Council must also approve the appointment. The
Commissioner of Health and the Health Department enforces city and state health
regulations, and runs several Health Centers. The Department also provides
immunizations, health screening, and the diagnosis and treatment of communicable
diseases. It deals with health education, health and nutrition, vital statistics,
environmental control, consumer protection, and related laboratory research.
