Domestic Science at Milwaukee-Downer College

Home Economics, The history of Milwaukee-Downer College, 1851-1951, Grace Norton Kieckhefer, November 1950, Series 33, Number 2, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Library, MKE Main Collection, LD 7251 .M66 M585
Domestic Science, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 3 Folder 4
Domestic Science, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 3 Folder 4
Domestic Science, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 3 Folder 4
Foods Labratory, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5
Domestic Science, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 3 Folder 4

Milwaukee-Downer College was a pioneer in educating women in the sciences. In the spring of 1901, the college catalogue announced that they would add Domestic Science classes which would be housed in two rooms in the basement of Merrill Hall.

A new building to house the Domestic Science department was funded with a $10,000 endowment fund from the College Endowment Association. The building was designed by Russell, and completed in January of 1908. It was named Kimberly Hall in honor of Helen Cheney Kimberly, who helped establish the Home Economics department.

Occupational Therapy, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss l Series 11 Box 4 Folder 1
Occupational Therapy, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss l Series 11 Box 4 Folder 1
Occupational Therapy, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss l Series 11 Box 4 Folder 1
Occupational Therapy, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss l Series 11 Box 4 Folder 1
Dining Room Kimberly Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5

The new building housed a model laundry, dressing and locker rooms in the basement; a model kitchen, pantry and dining room, and spacious cookery laboratory on the first floor; and a second floor devoted to clothing, textiles, millinery, basketry and other crafts.

With the growing number of students in the sciences and the inadequate facilities of Merrill, a new building was certainlly needed. After Lucia Briggs became president of the college, plans were made to build a new building that would house all the science departments.

Laying of the cornerstone of Sabin Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 2 Folder 8
List of the items placed in Sabin Hall’s Cornerstone, A History of Sabin Hall, Sandra M. Houk, December 7, 1972, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, UWM AC 120 Box 4 Folder 1
Cornerstone of Sabin Hall. Credit: Cael Byrne Credit: Cael Byrne

In November of 1927, the Milwaukee Downer College class of 1929 had the old cornerstone of the Wisconsin Female College building in Fox Lake dug up and brought to Milwaukee to be laid with the new cornerstone of the new science Hall.

The new building was named the Ellen C. Sabin Science Hall, and Miss Sabin was there for the laying of the cornerstone. Within the new cornerstone was placed a copper box filled with items from that era.

The building was designed by the architecture firm Van Ryn and DeGelleke, and ground was broken on August 10^th. The building was completed in September of 1928. Sabin Hall was the biggest building yet on campus, and was built at an estimated cost of $320,000.

On the first floor of Sabin Hall, there was a large lecture hall named Eleanor Pillsbury Hall in memory of the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Cyrus H. K. Curtis who contributed $50,000 toward the building.

Student in Sabin Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 9 Volume 2
Class in Sabin Hall 1963, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 6 Folder 3
Class in Sabin Hall, Lawrence University Archives, ARC2007-122
Class in Sabin Hall, Lawrence University Archives ARC2007-121
Class in Sabin Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 3 Folder 4

Sabin Hall had many laboratories including General Biology, bacteriology, Experimental Psychology, General Chemistry and Physical Science.

The Home Economics department held most of its classes in Sabin hall. The courses in food and nutrition and in the social and economic problems of the home were given at Sabin Hall.

Kimberly Hall, the old Home Economics building housed the courses in clothing and textiles.

During the 50s, Kimberly Hall was turned into a student union building. A cafeteria for city students and a dining room for faculty members were added as well as Hawthorn Lounge in the basement.

When UWM acquired the downer buildings, a study was done in May of 1965 to record the current conditions of the buildings and make recommendations for their use.

The report for Kimberly Hall said that the fire escape was not up to code, and plumbing and electrical needed to be updated.

“If the work as called for in this report and on the proposed room finish schedule is completed, we could assume an added useful life of approximately five years. Like Albert Hall, any further usage of the building would demand a complete obliteration of the present heating system and extensive remodeling of the physical structure.”

“As the building can be of service to the University for a time as temporary quarters for the Journalism Department it would be our recommendation that the proposed work be carried out. After the expiration of the recommended time or before, the building should be demolished, and other use made of the land upon which it is sited.”