The History of Mildred Elley
For nearly a century the Capital District of New York has been home to one of the nation's finest business schools. In 1917, when a shortage of office workers in the Capital District occurred because of World War I, many positions previously held by men opened to women. Many young women became excited about the opportunity to obtain the skills needed to fill these well-paying office positions.
A group of young women turned to Mrs. Augusta Mildred Elley, known in the community as a woman of letters. Educated at a New York City private school, she held a four-year college degree. Mrs. Elley was a well known suffragette and respected for her intellectual pursuits. She agreed to teach typing and shorthand in her home at 245 Quail Street in Albany, New York.
In 1919 fifty students graduated from Mildred Elley's school. The school soon outgrew the Elley home, and in 1927, the school moved to a "modern commercial building" at 227 Quail Street. For nearly seventy years, this building was the home of educational and career opportunities for many women.
In 1985, Faith Ann Takes became President of Mildred Elley School. Under her leadership, the school entered an era of change and growth. In ten years, the enrollment grew from thirty-seven to over five hundred students. In 1985, the school became co-educational. In 1989, an evening division was created and has grown to nearly the size of the day division. In 2002, a weekend division was added.
Since January 1997, graduates of the Albany Campus have been able to earn the Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree. In 1998, Mildred Elley's Albany Campus moved into 800 New Loudon Road in Latham. And in 2008, it relocated to its current location at 855 Central Avenue in Albany, NY.
In 1991, a branch campus was established in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to help dislocated workers get training as medical assistants. In 1992, Mildred Elley’s Pittsfield, Massachusetts Campus added more programs to meet the demands of the business community in the Berkshire area.Since then, several new programs were developed, and in 2005, Mildred Elley’s Pittsfield, Massachusetts Campus started offering credit-bearing certificate programs closely aligned with the programs offered in Albany, New York, within the academic divisions of Business Management, Massage Therapy, Medical Studies, and Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice.
In 2010, Mildred Elley opened it's newest campus location in lower Manhattan at 25 Broadway, New York. This extension campus focuses on the healthcare fields with programs in Medical Assisting and Practical Nursing.