About the Edgewood History Collection

The goal of this collection is to provide access to the rich history of Edgewood College beyond the library's walls.

Higher learning on this piece of Madison land began as early as 1881 when Cadwallader Washburn gave his Edgewood villa and the 55-acre wooded estate to the Sinsinawa Dominicans. The Dominican Sisters then moved their Madison boarding school for girls into the villa. After a tragic fire in 1893, the sisters rebuilt the school as Sacred Heart Academy. In 1927, Edgewood College was founded as a junior college for women. The senior college program began in 1940 and has since expanded to the many campus locations on Monroe Street, Deming Way, and the world wide web.

Many images in this collection were taken from Phoenix from the Fire: A History of Edgewood College by Mary Paynter OP. Published as part of the college's 75th jubilee celebration in 2002, Phoenix from the Fire is an excellent source for further exploration of Edgewood's rich history, and is available for checkout at the Oscar Rennebohm Library.

Copyright Information

The Oscar Rennebohm Library does not lend or reproduce any photographs or negatives from its photograph collections as the Library does not claim copyright to many of the images in its archives. The archives is made up of negatives and photographs created by Edgewood College employees and received from various other sources, including alumni, faculty, and their colleagues and families. The origin of many of the photos is unclear. If we know who might hold copyright to an image, we try to provide that information in our credit line and will provide contact information for the possible copyright holder if we have it.

Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond what is allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Any researcher wishing to make such use of an image must assume all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of Title 17 of the United States Code. It is the responsibility of the researcher to know and to comply with all copyright provisions. The Copyright Office provides more information about U.S. copyright law.

Additionally, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift agreements with Edgewood College or the Oscar Rennebohm Library and donor restrictions. The Oscar Rennebohm Library is interested to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified in our Digital Collections. Please contact the College Archives.

Oscar Rennebohm Library
March 2008