121:. This need led to Bruce's establishment of the Bruce Publishing Company, which published other journals as well as books in education, history, religion and technical topics. In time, Bruce brought his sons, William Conrad Bruce and Frank Milton Bruce, into the publishing company in operational and leadership roles. Nonetheless, he maintained the title of president until his death.
218:, including Milwaukee's Century of Progress (1918), A Short History of Milwaukee (1936) for school children, The Builders of Milwaukee (1946) for the city's centennial, and the three-volume History of Milwaukee, City and County (1922) to which he contributed several chapters for the first volume and edited the entire set including the two volumes of biographies.
179:. He served in that capacity until 1920 when the city created the five-member Board of Harbor Commissioners. He was elected chairman, a post he held until 1949. William George. Bruce thus led harbor affairs for Milwaukee for a total of 38 years. In addition, he served as a member and at times as president of the Wisconsin Deep Waterways Commission, the
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awarded him its certificate for distinctive civic service. Other recognitions include the naming of the
William George Bruce Elementary School on North 89th Street in Milwaukee in his honor and the 1929 renaming of Park Place as West Bruce Street, recognizing his service to Milwaukee's auditorium and
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He also wrote his memoirs, titled I Was Born in
America (1937), with both personal and Milwaukee history depicted. Other works include the School Board Manual; A Reference Work on School Administrative Labors for the Use of School Authorities (1904), School architecture: a handy manual for the use of
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Construction of the 1909 Milwaukee
Auditorium and its operation are closely associated with William George Bruce. He was on the 1905 committee that first began planning a replacement for the city's Exposition Building that had burned down in June of that year. He was president of the Auditorium board
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On May 4, 1881, in
Milwaukee, William George Bruce married Monica Moehring, daughter of Conrad Moehring and Renatta (Buehler) Moehring. Their children were William Conrad Bruce (1882β1974), Frank Milton Bruce (1885β1953) and Monica Marie Bruce (1891β1986). Monica Moehring Bruce died January 4, 1938,
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Several awards and honors were presented to
William George Bruce, recognizing his service to education, to Milwaukee and to the Catholic Church. He received the 1935 Distinguished Service Medal from the Cosmopolitan Club for his untiring service to Milwaukee. The club recognized him as the "dean of
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Bruce's involvement in the political realm began when he served as chairman of the
Democratic city and county committee from 1896β1906. During 1904β1906, he was a Milwaukee tax commissioner. In 1906 he ran for mayor of Milwaukee and in 1925 was a Democratic candidate running to succeed U.S. Senator
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In 1914, the company launched
Industrial Arts and Vocational Education, the shop teachers' professional magazine, and three years later began publishing technical books. Both initiatives were spurred by Bruce's conviction that technical training was vital to America's progress.
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William George Bruce had three brothers and five sisters, all children of
Augustus F. Bruce and Apollonia (Becker) Bruce. They included Albert J. Bruce, Augustus I. Bruce, Emma Bruce, Ida G. Bruce, Clara E. Bruce, Martin P. Bruce, Emily Bruce and Apollonia Bruce.
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While a member of the
Milwaukee School Board, he helped advocate for a high school for the city's south side, resulting in the establishment of South Side High School on September 5, 1893. In 1893, Bruce was manager of the city's educational exhibits at the
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In his will, William George Bruce left a distinctive legacy to his native city. He made a bequest of $ 30,000 for creation of a statue honoring immigrant mothers including his own mother, Apollonia Becker Bruce, who was born near
168:. He served from 1907β1919 as secretary of the Merchants' and Manufacturers Association in Milwaukee, an organization that advanced trade and business in Milwaukee and promoted the city across the nation.
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architects and school (1906), The Story of the
Auditorium (1923), The commercial secretary: self-training, functions and relations (1923), and Holy Trinity Church, 1850β1925 (1925).
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and now hosts varied performances including concerts, Broadway musicals, family shows and assemblies. The Milwaukee Harbor Commission continues to supervise the operations of the
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in 1911β1912 and still a member of the board on March 17, 1946, when The Milwaukee Journal newspaper did a feature story, "Milwaukee's Grand Old Man," on Bruce's 90th birthday.
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and harbor development and improvement. The port and harbor are seen today, as in Bruce's time, as important to the economic stability and growth of Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
389:"The Story of 'South,' 50th Anniversary Reunion, 1943," Milwaukee Public Schools Collection, Mss 1680, File 30, Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee, WI.
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132:. During that time it had published 2,000 books as well as numerous journals, magazines and pamphlets. For many years it had been considered the largest
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William's early education was at home due to illness, although he attended St. Mary's parish school when he was eleven. His early jobs including
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The Milwaukee Auditorium building near the corner of 6th and Kilbourn still stands. After extensive renovation in 2001β2003, it was renamed the
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Bruce filled varied leadership roles helping to advance his native city. He is perhaps best remembered for his work and advocacy for the
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19:(March 17, 1856 β August 13, 1949) was a Milwaukee author, publisher of educational, historical and religious books, and founder of the
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at the time of his death. The first eleven chapters of his memoirs were published in the society's magazine during 1932β1934.
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66:, where he worked in a picture frame factory. On his return to Milwaukee, he studied at the Spencerian Business College.
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On November 22, 1911, he became chair of the new Milwaukee Harbor Commission of nine citizens which was to advise the
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Papers, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, 1863-ongoing, Milwaukee Historical Society online
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and served for a time as vice president. He was remembered as a "maker of history" in a eulogy in the
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Board of Regents. From 1930 to 1947, he was a member of the Board of Curators of the
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In 1921, Bruce helped found and was elected one of three directors of the original
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in 1920, for contributions to education and charity, and receiving the 1947
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The publishing firm operated for 77 years until it was purchased in 1968 by
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making. He attended night school for a time in Milwaukee and also later in
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William George Bruce entry, History of Milwaukee, City and County, 1922
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I Was Born in America: Memoirs of William George Bruce, pgs. 171β172
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William George Bruce in Marquis Who's Who in America, Volume 7, 1913
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Wisconsin magazine of history: Volume 33, number 2, December 1949
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Faculty/Staff/Administration, from the 1922 Marquette University
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for championing the cause of education through his publications.
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William George Bruce wrote and edited a number of books on the
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Milwaukee County Genealogy at linkstothepast.com/milwaukee
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I Was Born in America, the Memoirs of William George Bruce
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field began in 1874 when he was hired as a clerk of the
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civic affairs" and Milwaukee's "public citizen No. 1."
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90:and also served as assistant business manager. The
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478:Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names
107:In 1891, Bruce set out on his own, launching the
84:. Then in 1880 he was hired as a cashier for the
39:William George Bruce was born March 17, 1856, in
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284:and William George Bruce died August 13, 1949.
94:had started in 1837 as a weekly, published by
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398:A thousand American men of mark to-day, 1917
507:Milwaukee Catholic Cemetery Database Online
316:received the commission for the sculpture
117:from 1889 to 1894, representing the Fifth
551:Papers of William George Bruce, 1881β1978
545:Papers of William George Bruce, 1895β1955
553:, University of West Florida Libraries.
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547:, Milwaukee County Historical Society.
327:His former home is located within the
557:History of Milwaukee, City and County
427:http://www.port.mil.wi.us/history.htm
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535:in Marquis Who's Who Volume 7, 1913.
380:The Milwaukee Journal, Jan. 15, 1969
181:Saint Lawrence Tidewater Association
51:, helping build vessels to sail the
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256:and education include being made a
192:Milwaukee County Historical Society
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583:School board members in Wisconsin
437:Milwaukee Journal, March 27, 1921
320:that stands today in Milwaukee's
541:in The Encyclopedia of Milwaukee
371:Milwaukee Journal, July 20, 1942
329:Walker's Point Historic District
252:Recognition for service to the
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136:publishing firm in the world.
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425:Port of Milwaukee History at
204:Wisconsin Magazine of History
166:Louisiana Purchase Exposition
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162:Chicago Columbian Exposition
130:Crowell Collier and McMillan
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235:He lost both elections.
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360:The Milwaukee Journal
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