Highlights of the Saint Mary's College of California Photograph Collection

Scenes from the Campus

Currently located in Moraga, California, Saint Mary's College has a rich and storied history spanning across the Bay Area. 

Originally founded in San Francisco in 1863 in an area that is now between Bernal Heights and Excelsior, Saint Mary's College moved to Oakland in 1889. Two devastating fires---one in 1894 and the other in 1918---ravaged the Oakland campus, but the school was rebuilt each time. Finally driven from Oakland by increasing development, in 1928 Saint Mary's College moved to its current home in the valleys of Moraga, California. Today, the campus boasts a chapel, library, dining hall, community garden, recreation center, and sports fields, in addition to classrooms and  dormitories. 

Empty classroom at the Saint Mary's College Oakland campus

Construction workers at the Lake Lasalle dam building site

The Chapel bell from the San Francisco campus arriving in Moraga

View of Galileo Hall from under the colonnade surrounding Dante Hall

Gymnasium and pool under construction

Three people walking on the road north of Lake Lasalle with Moraga campus in the background

The entryway to the chapel at the Saint Mary's College Oakland campus

Our Lady of the Oaks

A view of Moraga campus during its time as a Navy pre-flight school

Exterior view of the Power House immediately after construction

The groundbreaking of the Moraga campus

Exterior view of the President's dining room

View of Lake Lasalle with campus buildings

Books scattered on the floor in the Saint Albert Hall Library following the Loma Prieta earthquake

Urn in front of the chapel

Lobby of the Saint Albert Hall Library showing Renzi's Madonna and Child statue, fountain, tile floor, and card catalogs