Marquette Schools history

Marquette High traces its roots back to 1857 when St Aloysius Academy opened and was located at Second Street and Michigan Avenue in what is now downtown Milwaukee.

Bishop Henni, aging and informed, finally saw the fruits of his labors become reality when ground was broken for a three-story classroom building in 1880.

John Martin Henni, used him as inspiration when Marquette College opened in September 1881.

Of the five graduates in 1887, one remained at the college to earn his Master of Arts; eventually he became the first lay instructor at his alma mater.

The Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S), which had opened in 1893, added a dental department.

Located at Wells & 9th Streets, it was here on September 26, 1894 that the School of Dentistry admitted its first freshman class.

In 1896, with the addition of several other faculty members, the institution changed its name to Milwaukee Law School.

In 1907, the expanding academy and college were separated and the academy extended its courses to four years, after which a diploma was awarded, just as now.

In 1908, neighboring Marquette University was looking to expand its academic offerings, having recently added the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry to the original undergraduate college.

In 1918, the university unexpectedly acquired a large tract of land between Fifteen and Sixteenth streets, from Wisconsin (then called Grand) Avenue to Clybourn.

In the “magnificent structure” of 1924, much praise was given to the third-floor library and reading room.

In response, a new building for the business students arose at the corner of Thirteenth and Michigan in 1950, followed by two of the most important additions in the history of the university: a student union to serve the entire Marquette community as well as the university’s first library building.

Then in January of 1969, President John P. Raynor, S.J., announced a complete overhaul of membership on the Board of Trustees, from three Jesuits to eight Jesuits and twenty-one laymen.