About Us
Take this decade-by-decade tour of the history of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences beginning with the College's origins in 1881 and continuing through to the present day.
1880'S
When it was chartered in 1881, ACP (as it would be known for the next 127 years) was one of only 14 colleges of pharmacy in the United States. On October 3, 1881, the College held its inaugural class in the Eagle Street building that also housed Albany Medical College (see photo). The class was attended by 21 students, including one woman, Sarah Simonet. Students who would go on to complete the two-year program earned a Ph.G. or Graduate in Pharmacy degree.
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1890'S
ACP grew steadily throughout the 1890's. In contrast to its first graduating class of just three students in 1882, the Class of 1890 was the largest class yet – 69 students – with requirements for lecture and lab courses having more than doubled since 1881. The College's growth also led to new facilities including a reading room with current pharmaceutical journals, a Pharmacognosy room with almost 300 specimens of drugs and chemicals, and a Chemistry Laboratory.
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1900'S
A New York State Law took effect in 1905 decreeing that “all candidates for license appearing before the Board of Examiners must be graduates of a college or School of Pharmacy." The law elevated the standing of pharmacy in the state and led to more stringent entry requirements at ACP. Change was also taking place on campus as ACP moved into the former Humane Society building on Eagle Street, across the street from the school's original home at Albany Medical College.
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1910'S
As the College began to spread its wings, the “teens” brought new narcotics legislation and Prohibition, two developments which had a far reaching impact on pharmacies throughout the country. The decade also saw a change in leadership as Dean Willis Tucker announced his retirement after nearly 40 years as the leader of the school. William Mansfield (pictured at right) was appointed as his successor.
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1920'S
The 1920s were a landmark decade in ACP history as, in 1926, the school began construction on its own building. The three-story building on New Scotland Avenue (now called the Francis J. O’Brien Building) accommodated 500 students and contained six labs, a model pharmacy, an auditorium, a library, a gym, and an alumni room. The decade also saw the pharmacy program expanded to three years and the addition of many extracurricular activities including fraternities, clubs, and sports.
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1930'S
In fall 1937, ACP introduced a four-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in an effort to re-establish the professionalism and prestige of the pharmacy degree, which had been tarnished during Prohibition. And in an effort to preserve the history of pharmacy, the College acquired the contents of the O.B. Throop Drugstore. First established in 1800, the store was moved to ACP “lock, stock and barrel” in 1938 and reassembled as a pharmacy museum on the campus where it remains today.
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1940'S
In 1943, Francis J. O’Brien ’20 replaced William Mansfield as dean of the College and was tasked with the difficult job of leading the school during World War II. By 1944, 42 students had enlisted in the service and concerns arose about the future viability of the College. The end of the war and the subsequent introduction of the G.I. bill combined to help steady the school as enrollment shot up in the immediate post-war years.
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1950'S
The 1950's brought prosperity for ACP with enrollment numbers still high and a large number of veterans from both World War II and the Korean War attending classes. The upsurge in enrollment led to more and revitalized sports and activities, and soon, the need for additional space. That issue was addressed in 1956 when the College broke ground on a new addition to its main building (the Wardle Wing), a fitting "gift" to mark the school's 75th anniversary.
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1960'S
At ACP, the 1960's were marked by two key events: the College launched a new five-year pharmacy program in 1960, and Walter Singer ’48 replaced Francis O’Brien ’20 when the latter stepped down as dean of the school. Dean O'Brien's retirement capped a remarkable 47 years where he served as a member of the faculty or administration of the College. Dr. Singer (pictured at right), who had returned to ACP in 1966 as associate dean and professor of pharmacy, would go on to serve 15 years at the helm of the College.
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1970'S
For the 1974-75 academic year, a decision was made to divide the final year of the pharmacy program into three segments, featuring 24 weeks of didactic instruction and a block of 13 weeks of clinical practice. These innovative hands-on experiences - the precursor to today's Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE's) - were designed to give graduates a leg up in finding employment.
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1980'S
In 1981, the College celebrated its 100th anniversary with a gala event at the new Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. Similar to its 75th anniversary, the College broke ground that year on an addition to the O'Brien Building (it would eventually be named the Blythe Building in honor of Rudolph Blythe '31). The decade also saw the 1982 retirement of Dean Singer who was replaced by Kenneth Miller, Ph.D. Dr. Miller would become just the sixth dean in the College's history.
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1990'S
In 1995, University Heights Association Inc. was established to benefit ACP and its three academic neighbors - Albany Law School, Albany Medical College, and The Sage Colleges. UHA purchased the former home of the Christian Brothers Academy and the New York State Armory on New Scotland Avenue to create a 30-acre campus shared by all four colleges. ACP was "landlocked" no more, setting the stage for the College's physical expansion plans in the 21st century.
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2000'S
The first decade of the new millennium was a time of exceptional growth and change. During this period, the College built or acquired eight buildings, including the addition of three on-campus residence halls, the construction of a brand new Student Center, and the opening of a new campus in Colchester, VT. A range of new degree programs were also introduced during this decade, leading to a new name for the institution - Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
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2010'S
As the health care system transitions to a more patient-centric model, the College is also changing to keep pace with the demand for new and expanded skill sets. Through new academic programs, building renovations, expanded co-curricular activities, and innovations such as our two student operated pharmacies, the College is working to ensure graduates who enter the workforce are "Beyond Practice Ready" - not just today, but for many years to come.
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