Throughout the college’s existence, they received several private collections. The largest and most renowned collection received was the Thomas A. Greene geological collection which contained about 75,000 specimens of minerals and fossils, especially fossils from the Silurian and Devonian periods.
Greene Collection in Thomas Greene’s Home, Thomas A. Greene Memorial Museum National Historic Landmark Nomination, Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf, Dr. Donald G. Mikulic, March 31, 1993 
Greene Collection in Thomas Greene’s Home, Thomas A. Greene Memorial Museum National Historic Landmark Nomination, Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf, Dr. Donald G. Mikulic, March 31, 1993 
Greene Collection in Thomas Greene’s Home, Wisconsin Historical Society, H.H. Bennett Studio Collection, 111479
These images show the collection as it was originally displayed in Thomas Greene’s house. In 1912, Mrs. Horace J. Upham presented this collection to the college and contributed $10,000 towards the construction of a museum building.
The Greene Memorial Museum was designed by Eschweiler to be completely fireproof. It was completed in March of 1913. Later, the college would grow the collection to 100,000 specimens. The artifacts in the museum on the third floor of Merrill Hall were also relocated to the new Greene Museum.
UWM Purchases the Collection
Geologists in the Greene Museum, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, UWM AC 006 Box 11 Folder 15 
Geologists in the Greene Museum, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, UWM AC 006 Box 11 Folder 15 
Geologists in the Greene Museum, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, UWM AC 006 Box 11 Folder 15 
Geologists in the Greene Museum, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, UWM AC 006 Box 11 Folder 15
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee purchased the 75,000 fossils and 13,000 mineral specimens in the Thomas Greene Museum collection. The Thomas Greene Memorial Museum was opened to the public on February 6th, 1970.
Greene Museum, Urban spelunking: UWM’s Greene Museum & Stahl Center for Jewish Studies, Bobby Tanzilo, August 9, 2022, OnMilwaukee 
Compact Shelving Housing the Greene Museum Fossil Collection – Cael Byrne Credit: Cael Byrne 
UWM Geology Department Student Volunteer Showing Attendees the Greene Museum Mineral Collections – Cael Byrne Credit: Cael Byrne 
UWM’s Thomas A. Greene Museum Mineral Collection – Cael Byrne Credit: Cael Byrne
In 1992, the collection was moved to a new display room in Lapham Hall. According to the website; approximately 5,000 of the 75,000 specimens are displayed in the new room while the rest of the collection is kept in a climate-controlled room in the basement in a compact shelving unit. The storage room, compact shelving and displays are all secured with separate keys and an alarm system.
“When UWM became UWM and was no longer the Downer Women’s College, this building sat for years because it wasn’t ADA compliant, pretty much melting into the ground,” said Ann Dredge, building chair of the Greene Memorial Museum Building.
A donation from Sam and Helen Stahl allowed this building to be renovated, and become the Stahl Center for Jewish Studies. The Jewish Studies Department was previously located in Curtin Hall.
“You know, I used to walk by that building before they restored it, and I kept thinking, God, what a cool old building,” said Dredge, “I’m really glad that they restored it.”
Greene Museum Cabinets in Madison, Images provided by Robert Graziano 
Greene Museum Cabinets in Madison, Images provided by Robert Graziano 
Greene Museum Cabinets in Madison, Images provided by Robert Graziano 
Greene Museum Cabinets in Madison, Images provided by Robert Graziano 
Greene Museum Cabinets in Madison, Images provided by Robert Graziano
The original wooden cabinets from the Greene Memorial Museum are owned by the state of Wisconsin, and were transferred to the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey core repository bldg in Mount Horeb.
They are used to display rocks, minerals and fossils still (though not Greene specimens) for all visitors to see at their facility. If UWM were ever able to expand their museum footprint in Lapham ( or elsewhere ) the geologists there have mentioned that they would send them back to be repurposed to their original use.
Greene Memorial Museum Gallery:
