The Attic Angel Association is one of the oldest philanthropic organizations in Wisconsin. Its beginnings are dated around 1889, although the surviving minutes go back only as far as 1899. The original membership consisted of unmarried young women. Members were required to resign when they married. Later the constitution was amended to include married members. Women became members on invitation, and only a few members at a time were added.
The activities of the early organization were diverse. Members made layettes for poor families, gave Christmas parties and toys to underprivileged children, set up a sewing school for girls, and attempted to form a club for boys. One of their first large scale efforts was to raise $1,000 for the building of what was to be Madison General Hospital. After that the group decided to concentrate their energy in only a few arenas. In 1908 they sponsored the first visiting nurse service in Madison. This was to be their major concern for the next forty years. The visiting nurse service expanded. By 1926 the Attic Angels were employing three nurses and were advised to incorporate as a non-stock corporation. The Visiting Nurse Service was incorporated separately in 1950.
Other activities of the organization were also in the fields of public health. They helped sponsor Child Health Centers and Chest Clinics. When the Visiting Nurse Service became officially separated the Attic Angels turned their efforts towards raising money for a nursing home. The Attic Angel Nursing Home was opened in 1953.
