​Congregational Archives

Founded in 1861, St. Elizabeth's Academy was the first school opened by the Allegany Franciscans. The Academy was housed in the original Motherhouse, and it offered an education to both day students and boarders. St. Elizabeth's Academy offered several tracks of education for young women. Originally founded as a finishing school, the sisters soon added both a Regents diploma program and a college preparatory program to the curriculum. At the turn of the 20th century, a year's tuition and board at the Academy cost $120.00.