Maria College

Department: Library
700 New Scotland Ave.
Albany, New York 12208
Phone: 518-861-2515
Contact:
Krista Robbin - 518-861-2515 - library@mariacollege.edu
Geolocation:

Maria College

About

In 1958, the Religious Sisters of Mercy founded Maria as a Sister Formation and Liberal Arts college with a student body of 52. Today, we serve just over 1,000 students, men and women, who attend our day, evening and weekend classes, and are enrolled in our online course offerings. From its founding, the mission of the College has been to educate for service—service to the greater Capital Region and to the communities in which its graduates live and work. Although Maria was established to educate the Sisters of Mercy, the vision soon broadened with the College’s first degree program with enrollment open to the community : Early Childhood Education. All degree programs were opened to coeducational enrollment in 1971, and today male enrollment accounts for more than 20% of Maria’s student body. The library has a special collection of historical titles aimed at supporting research, learning and teaching by collecting, cataloging and preserving unique titles of interest to Maria College, The Sisters of Mercy and the broader academic community. These fiction and non-fiction titles are classified as “Special Collection” because of their research potential, uniqueness, rarity, early printing, limited availability, autographed editions and/or physical fragility. Items vary considerably, with a concentration on, but not limited to, early American history, children’s literature and Catholicism, with the oldest title dating back to 1686. Also included are black and white photographs, documents, correspondence, publications and newspaper articles pertaining to the history of the College. The digital collection contains a selection of these archival materials depicting Maria’s early days, including the groundbreaking ceremony and blessing of the College, as well as historical photographs of faculty, students, board members, presidents, and local religious community leaders and politicians.

Maria College is a member of the Capital District Library Council.

Collections

Maria College Anniversary Collection

The Maria College Anniversaries collections contains commemorative proclamations and speeches in regards to the 25th, 50th and 60th anniversaries of the College and the 25th anniversary of the Nursing Program.

College sign in brick wall at entrance opened in 2020, adjacent to Marian Hall

The collection chronicles the growth of the Maria College from its origin to the present day. 

Maria College Digital Collection

This collection contains items related to Maria College.

Maria College Glee Club Collection

This collection contains the recordings from three albums recorded by the Maria College Glee Club.

Maria College Nursing 50th Anniversary Collection

Celebrating 50 years of Nursing education at Maria College. Collection contains photographs, ephemera, manuscripts, articles, correspondence, booklets, announcements and press releases relating to the nursing program from its inception in 1970 to 2020.

Maria College Occupational Therapy Department Assistive Device Collection

Occupational Therapy Assistive Devices from a variety of time periods and manufacturers.

Maria College Promarian Newsletter

A newsletter written by faculty and students at Maria College, 1960-1966. At the time, most students were Sisters of Mercy.

Maria College The Mariale Literary Magazine

This collection consists of copies of Maria College's Literary Magazine, The Mariale.

Maureen O'Sullivan Cushing Collection of Maria College Albany NY

This collection contains photos and documents that pertain to Maureen O’Sullivan and James Cushing.

Reflections Yearbook Collection

"Reflections" was the official yearbook of Maria College from 1967 to 1976 and 1980.