Title: West Division High School Collection
Inclusive Dates: 1906-2000

Creators:

• West Division High School (Milwaukee, Wis.)
• Zeidler, Frank P.

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 106

Quantity: 1.5 cubic ft. (4 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

This collection contains records related to West Division High School, its reunion, and alumni. Made up of newspaper clippings, correspondence, pamphlets, photos, and surveys.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0106

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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.

The records all relate to West Division High School, including correspondence, newspaper clippings, commencement programs, scrapbooks, a Latin reading book, and a research paper. Much of the records are related to class reunions, comprised by invitations, budgets, a guestbook, registers, photographs, reunion committee agenda and minutes, surveys, fliers, obituaries and pamphlets.

Subjects are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

West Division High School Collection, 1906-2000, Collection 106. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• Frank P. Zeidler Mayoral Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 48.

• Historic Photo Collection. Milwaukee Historic Photo Collection 6.

• Milwaukee Public Schools Album. Milwaukee Historic Photo Collection 40.

Publications and Other Items

Comet

The Comet

Comet / Milwaukee High School of the Arts

West Division High School class reunion : class of 1930

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Original donation information is currently unavailable. Additional materials were later donated by Frank Zeidler and added to the collection. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Processed by Tobias Fudge, 2023.

Box   1 Folder   1	27th Street school reunion, 1924-1990, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Class of 1953 reunion booklet, 1963
Box   1 Folder   3	Commencement program 1906, 1906-1983
Box   1 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1957-1977
Box   1 Folder   5	Correspondence-50th reunion, 1973-1989
Box   1 Folder   6	Correspondence-60th anniversary, 1921-2000
Box   1 Folder   7	Guestbook, 1985-1989
Box   1 Folder   8	"Julia", a Latin Reading book, 1925
Box   1 Folder   9	Milwaukee Reader v43 no9, 1985 February 25
Box   1 Folder   10	Research paper, "The School Theater" by Stuart Anderson, 1937-1984
Box   2 Folder   1-3	Reunion papers, 1958-1997
Box   4 Folder   1	Reunion papers-class of 1930, 1958-1990
Box   2 Folder   4	Reunion papers-contacts, undated
Box   2 Folder   8	Reunion papers-questionnaire, 1959-1989
Box   3 Folder   1	Reunion papers-questionnaire, 1959-1989
Box   3 Folder   2	Reunion papers-questionnaire, deceased, 1946-1975
Box   3 Folder   3	School history, 1913-1988
Box   3 Folder   4	Scrapbook, "The Doings of Russel E. Hall", 1912-1982
Box   4	Sports Scrapbook, 1939-1948
Box   3 Folder   5	Westside News newspaper clipping, 1984 February