Oscar Werwath
Encyclopedia
Oscar Werwath was the founder and first president of the Milwaukee School of Engineering
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, United States
. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery
.
Born in Stallupönen, Germany
on May 3, 1880, Werwath was born to department store owner Carl and his wife, Johanna. At the turn of the 20th century Oscar Werwath came to Wisconsin when he was 23, shortly after finishing his degree from the University of Darmstadt. Knowing the strong German-American reputation and industrial center, he decided to settle in Milwaukee, becoming employed at the Louis Allis Co. shortly after. Seeing that skilled engineering in Milwaukee was in great demand, Werwath conceptualized a local school that could accommodate the needed work force. Approaching the president of Rheude's Business School, Werwath was given permission to establish a series of night classes for young men in practical electricity. Shortly after the courses began, enrollment grew to be too large for the business school. Still working with the Louis Allis Co. in 1905, Werwath was encouraged to open an engineering school as Allis donated $500 toward the "School of Engineering" ("Milwaukee" was added later in 1932). Oscar then became the president of his school until his death in 1948.
In 1908 Oscar and Johanna married and resettled in Milwaukee. The Werwaths had four children; Karl (1909-1979), Greta (1910-2003), Hannah (1913-1984), and Heinz (1916-1987), all of whom worked at the Milwaukee School of Engineering at some point in their life. Karl, Oscar's oldest son, was a graduate of his father's school in 1936 and became president one month after his father's death in 1948 until 1977.
Milwaukee School of Engineering
The Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private university located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. MSOE is best known for its applications-oriented curriculum, close association with business and industry, and extremely high placement rate...
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery
Forest Home Cemetery
Forest Home Cemetery located in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the final resting place of many of the city's famed beer barons, politicians and social elite...
.
Born in Stallupönen, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on May 3, 1880, Werwath was born to department store owner Carl and his wife, Johanna. At the turn of the 20th century Oscar Werwath came to Wisconsin when he was 23, shortly after finishing his degree from the University of Darmstadt. Knowing the strong German-American reputation and industrial center, he decided to settle in Milwaukee, becoming employed at the Louis Allis Co. shortly after. Seeing that skilled engineering in Milwaukee was in great demand, Werwath conceptualized a local school that could accommodate the needed work force. Approaching the president of Rheude's Business School, Werwath was given permission to establish a series of night classes for young men in practical electricity. Shortly after the courses began, enrollment grew to be too large for the business school. Still working with the Louis Allis Co. in 1905, Werwath was encouraged to open an engineering school as Allis donated $500 toward the "School of Engineering" ("Milwaukee" was added later in 1932). Oscar then became the president of his school until his death in 1948.
In 1908 Oscar and Johanna married and resettled in Milwaukee. The Werwaths had four children; Karl (1909-1979), Greta (1910-2003), Hannah (1913-1984), and Heinz (1916-1987), all of whom worked at the Milwaukee School of Engineering at some point in their life. Karl, Oscar's oldest son, was a graduate of his father's school in 1936 and became president one month after his father's death in 1948 until 1977.