Benevolent Association, 1926-1979, Undated

The Benevolent Association of the New York State College for Teachers was incorporated in 1926 and its Board of Directors first met in Albany in August 1927. While the organization's constitution stresses that its main purpose is to "heighten and enrich the physical, mental, social and moral life of the students," the Benevolent Association was closely connected to the Alumni Association and an outgrowth of the original Dormitory/Residence Hall Building Committee. The Benevolent Association acquired property for dormitories and operated the College (and later University) resident halls until 1967 when they were sold to the State of New York. The Alumni Association also helped nominate the Benevolent Association Board which carried out the policies and recommendations of the Alumni Association. Both groups held their annual meetings at approximately same time.

In addition to management of the residence halls, the Benevolent Association administered and bequeathed scholarship funds and supported key University projects. In 1982 the Benevolent Association merged with the University Foundation and Annual Fund of the Alumni Association to become the University at Albany Fund, Inc., the central fund-raising arm of the University.