House of the Good Shepherd, Milwaukee

House of the Good Shepherd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Note: a few self-care resources are listed at the end of this page.

The House of the Good Shepherd was a girls’ boarding school in Milwaukee that operated from 1878 until the 1970s. Between 1884 and 1890, more than sixty Native girls from the Turtle Mountain region attended the school as part of the federal government’s Native boarding-school system. This page provides a brief introduction to the history of Native girls who attended Milwaukee’s House of the Good Shepherd.

The girls were sent to Milwaukee as part of a broader federal policy that removed Native children from their families and communities in order to promote assimilation into Euro-American society. Education was one goal of the system, but so was the replacement of Native languages, customs, and social ties with those of the dominant culture. The House of the Good Shepherd was one of many institutions that participated in this effort.

At least seven of the Native girls are known to have died while attending the school and were buried at Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee. Most died from tuberculosis or related illnesses, diseases that were widespread and often fatal in the nineteenth century, especially in institutional settings. Their deaths are a reminder that the history of boarding schools is not only a story of government policy and institutions, but also of individual children whose lives were shaped, and sometimes cut short, far from their families and communities.

Why it Matters

This is a story of Milwaukee, and that’s true even if you aren’t interested in Native stories generally. The House of the Good Shepherd operated for more than 80 years, being charged with caring for girls who weren’t able to be cared for at their homes.

While it was privately operated, it was part of the public juvenile- welfare and reformatory systems, and the school was compensated for every girl committed to it by the state or counties. It was also supported by the public as a charitable organization, including by prominent Milwaukee families, such as the Cudahys, through donations, bequests, and fundraising events.

Most of its labor was uncompensated, whether by the sisters or the girls. And still the sisters weren’t able to make ends meet. Like similar institutions in the late 19th century, they took Native children from their families because they needed the money and the federal government paid them.

While the system the House of the Good Shepherd was part of has been replaced by foster care and juvenile corrections, these are not perfect either. The history of how society has responded to the needs of vulnerable children in the past informs about what is happening in the present, and how it can be improved for the future.

Timeline

1878: Opens on 4th Street
1880: Moves to 49th and North
1884: Native girls arrive from Turtle Mountain region
1890: Last Native girls leave for another boarding school in Avoca, Minnesota
1927: Moves to 88th and Blue Mound
1977: Building sold to Wisconsin Lutheran College

Research and Public Engagement

Ongoing Research

Much remains unknown about the experiences of the girls and their families. By documenting what can be learned from surviving records, this project seeks to contribute to ongoing efforts toward truth-telling, remembrance, healing, and reconciliation.

This research is based on publicly available records. While their information is limited, survivors and descendants can contact the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to request information about yourself or your ancestor. You can also contact me (email address on the bottom of the page) for assistance.

Presentations

"House of the Good Shepherd: Why Milwaukee had a Native Boarding School (1884–1890)", presented as part of the MKE – Every Child Matters Walk, 3 October 2026.