Summary Information
Basilica of St. Josaphat Album
1928
- Basilica of St. Josaphat (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Milwaukee Historic Photo Collection 28
0.8 cubic ft. (1 box)
Milwaukee Public Library (Map)
Photo album of basilica interior views. Artfully
inscribed by hand is the text, "The Pastor, Sisters, and Parishioners of St.
Josaphat Parish take much pleasure in dedicating this Album to the great Architect
and Builder of their Basilica, Erhard Brielmaier, 1841-1917."
To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-mhpc0028 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The parish of the Basilica of St. Josaphat was founded in 1888. With the growing size
of the Polish community located on Milwaukee’s south side, Father Wilhelm Grutza
hired architect Erhard Brielmaier to design a new structure with a large seating
capacity. Brielmaier modeled his design after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and
presented his blueprints for it in 1896. Grutza and his parishioners worked
continually on the project for years, both on raising funds for the construction and
providing the actual labor. In an effort to save money, Grutza purchased materials
from the U.S. Post Office and Customs House in Chicago that was being torn down and
had them shipped to Milwaukee. On 21 July 1901, the new church was dedicated before
4000 worshippers. It became the largest church in Milwaukee at the time and features
one of the largest copper domes in the world. It was added to the National Register
of Historic Places in 1973.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains a photo album of the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Most of the
photos are interior views and include various close-ups of the artwork, altar, and
other architectural details inside the basilica. There is a page dedicated to the
architect Erhard Brielmaier and another giving a brief overview of the church. The
photos are all in black and white.
Arrangement of the Materials
The album is in original order.
Preferred Citation
Basilica of St. Josaphat Album, 1928, Collection 28. Milwaukee Historic Photo
Archives, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Alternate Format
The materials in this collection have been digitized and can be found in the Basilica of St. Josaphat Album digital collection.
Related Material in the Milwaukee Public Library
Archival Collections
Publications and Other Items
Basilica of St. Josaphat
Souvenir Album of the Golden Jubilee of the Dedication of St. Josaphat's
Basilica
Administrative/Restriction Information
There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all
in accordance with state law. The public may view collections from the Milwaukee
Historic Photo Archives 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.
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).
Donation information is currently unavailable. Materials accessioned as a
Historic Photo Collection.
Initial processing by unknown. Final processing by Bob Jaeger, 2020.
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