History | Emmanuel College, Boston Massachusetts
Source: https://www.emmanuel.edu/about/who-we-are/history
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
History | Emmanuel College, Boston Massachusetts
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Admissions & Aid
Academics
Beyond Campus
Student Life
About
Our History
Momentum Driven by Purpose
Emmanuel College has always been a place grounded in strong values and beliefs, yet unafraid to challenge its community and the world around it.
In 1919, the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
, an international Catholic religious congregation, opened Emmanuel as the first Catholic college for women in New England. Deeply committed to education, the
Sisters
founded the College to provide women with educational opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
For more than 80 years, Emmanuel served proudly as a Catholic liberal arts and sciences college for women and enjoyed a reputation for academic rigor and a commitment to social justice. In 2001, the College officially became a coeducational institution, expanding its educational mission to include young men in its undergraduate arts and sciences program. Now in its second century, the College is a thriving, future-focused institution, still deeply committed to the tenets of its founding.
Historic Highlights
In the early years, Emmanuel was a day college preparing women for professional fields such as business, law, medicine and social work. Despite being commuters, students were involved in
numerous
co-curricular activities including student publications and athletics. The 1920s, 1930s and 1940s saw growth not only in the student population, academic
programs
and activities, but also in the physical campus, with
additional
land purchases on Brookline Avenue and Avenue Louis Pasteur. In 1949, the College completed the construction of Alumnae Hall. This science center, the first building constructed on campus after the original
Administration Building
(now the Eisner Administration Building)
si
gnif
ied Emmanuel's strength in the sciences, which continues today.
During the building boom of the 1950s and 1960s, Emmanuel became a residential college. New buildings included Marian Hall (residential, dining and student center), St. James Hall, Julie Hall,
St. Ann Hall
,
Loretto Hall
and
St. Joseph Hall
.
The Cardinal Cushing Library
was also dedicated in 1965. By 1968, residential students outnumbered commuters for the first time.
Over the years, the College has responded to shifting demographics in higher education and the world at large with an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. In the 1970s, Emmanuel began to offer degree completion programs to adult learners and, in 1990, the College expanded its programs to include flexible accelerated formats, with programs in business and nursing offered at satellite centers.
The 2000s saw dramatic growth and innovation, with enrollment tripling in the decade following the College's decision to become coeducational. During this
period
the College added new facilities including the
Jean Yawkey Center
(student center) and the
Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center
. In 2009, the College partnered with the City of Boston to restore
Roberto Clemente Field
, across the street from campus, to serve as Emmanuel's home athletic field. In 2013, Emmanuel completed the restoration of the historic
Eisner
Administration Building. In 2018, the College opened
its newest and largest building,
Saint Julie Hall
,
an
18
-story, apartment-style
reside
nce f
or
upp
er-class
students,
on the original site of Julie Hall.
And in 2019, the College marked its
Centennial
with celebrations that reflected on 100 years of transformative educational experiences and the bold, entrepreneurial spirit that enabled the College to thrive amid changes in society and in higher education. A significant development in
the
second century is the addition of a traditional undergraduate nursing program and the formal opening of the
Maureen Murphy Wilkens School of Nursing & Clinical Sciences
in 2021.
Amid changes, Emmanuel has remained steadfastly committed to its Catholic educational mission and its core values, which emphasize intellectual inquiry and integrity, a commitment to justice and peace,
a strong sense
of community, and service to others.
Profiles
Ethan Emata '26 | Investing in Himself...
April 23, 2026
“Being here helps you learn about yourself and get used to the ‘real world,’” Ethan said. And the supportive culture he found at Emmanuel - where he...
Athletics
Saints Beyond the Game: Brandon Shuman '27...
April 22, 2026
This year’s Men’s Lacrosse roster feels a lot like family. What does that mean to Brandon? Everything!“Knowing that I have 30 brothers that will show...
Alumni
Rewriting a First Lady: Lois Romano ’74 on Power, Po...
April 22, 2026
She was 22, a recent Emmanuel graduate, and looking for part-time work when she answered a classified ad for a reporting job at a small Capitol Hill...
Skip to main content
Admissions & Aid
Academics
Beyond Campus
Student Life
About
Our History
Momentum Driven by Purpose
Emmanuel College has always been a place grounded in strong values and beliefs, yet unafraid to challenge its community and the world around it.
In 1919, the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
, an international Catholic religious congregation, opened Emmanuel as the first Catholic college for women in New England. Deeply committed to education, the
Sisters
founded the College to provide women with educational opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
For more than 80 years, Emmanuel served proudly as a Catholic liberal arts and sciences college for women and enjoyed a reputation for academic rigor and a commitment to social justice. In 2001, the College officially became a coeducational institution, expanding its educational mission to include young men in its undergraduate arts and sciences program. Now in its second century, the College is a thriving, future-focused institution, still deeply committed to the tenets of its founding.
Historic Highlights
In the early years, Emmanuel was a day college preparing women for professional fields such as business, law, medicine and social work. Despite being commuters, students were involved in
numerous
co-curricular activities including student publications and athletics. The 1920s, 1930s and 1940s saw growth not only in the student population, academic
programs
and activities, but also in the physical campus, with
additional
land purchases on Brookline Avenue and Avenue Louis Pasteur. In 1949, the College completed the construction of Alumnae Hall. This science center, the first building constructed on campus after the original
Administration Building
(now the Eisner Administration Building)
si
gnif
ied Emmanuel's strength in the sciences, which continues today.
During the building boom of the 1950s and 1960s, Emmanuel became a residential college. New buildings included Marian Hall (residential, dining and student center), St. James Hall, Julie Hall,
St. Ann Hall
,
Loretto Hall
and
St. Joseph Hall
.
The Cardinal Cushing Library
was also dedicated in 1965. By 1968, residential students outnumbered commuters for the first time.
Over the years, the College has responded to shifting demographics in higher education and the world at large with an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. In the 1970s, Emmanuel began to offer degree completion programs to adult learners and, in 1990, the College expanded its programs to include flexible accelerated formats, with programs in business and nursing offered at satellite centers.
The 2000s saw dramatic growth and innovation, with enrollment tripling in the decade following the College's decision to become coeducational. During this
period
the College added new facilities including the
Jean Yawkey Center
(student center) and the
Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center
. In 2009, the College partnered with the City of Boston to restore
Roberto Clemente Field
, across the street from campus, to serve as Emmanuel's home athletic field. In 2013, Emmanuel completed the restoration of the historic
Eisner
Administration Building. In 2018, the College opened
its newest and largest building,
Saint Julie Hall
,
an
18
-story, apartment-style
reside
nce f
or
upp
er-class
students,
on the original site of Julie Hall.
And in 2019, the College marked its
Centennial
with celebrations that reflected on 100 years of transformative educational experiences and the bold, entrepreneurial spirit that enabled the College to thrive amid changes in society and in higher education. A significant development in
the
second century is the addition of a traditional undergraduate nursing program and the formal opening of the
Maureen Murphy Wilkens School of Nursing & Clinical Sciences
in 2021.
Amid changes, Emmanuel has remained steadfastly committed to its Catholic educational mission and its core values, which emphasize intellectual inquiry and integrity, a commitment to justice and peace,
a strong sense
of community, and service to others.
Profiles
Ethan Emata '26 | Investing in Himself...
April 23, 2026
“Being here helps you learn about yourself and get used to the ‘real world,’” Ethan said. And the supportive culture he found at Emmanuel - where he...
Athletics
Saints Beyond the Game: Brandon Shuman '27...
April 22, 2026
This year’s Men’s Lacrosse roster feels a lot like family. What does that mean to Brandon? Everything!“Knowing that I have 30 brothers that will show...
Alumni
Rewriting a First Lady: Lois Romano ’74 on Power, Po...
April 22, 2026
She was 22, a recent Emmanuel graduate, and looking for part-time work when she answered a classified ad for a reporting job at a small Capitol Hill...