Downtown in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
52 South Swan Street
Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, October 24, 2026
1. 52 South Swan Street Marker
Fine Arts was located
here 1911-1918
c1831
with alterations
Erected by Historic Albany Foundation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. In addition, it is included in the Historic Albany Foundation series list.
Location. 42° 39.306′ N, 73° 45.499′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of South Swan Street and Elk Street, on the left when traveling north on South Swan Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 52 S Swan Street, Albany NY 12210, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York and in the Capital District. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. State Education Building (was about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).
Regarding 52 South Swan Street. The Albany School of Fine Arts occupied this building from 1911 to 1918. Its 1913–1914 catalogue identifies 52 South Swan Street as its address and describes a three-year program combining fine arts, handicrafts, art history, and professional training.
The school prepared students for careers in art, design, and teaching, while also offering courses for those pursuing art for personal enrichment. Its curriculum included drawing, painting, illustration,
Photographed by Trudi Jacobson, October 24, 2026
2. 52 South Swan Street
It is the facade on the right.
Women played prominent roles in the school's administration and instruction. Mrs. William H. Sage served as president of the Board of Directors, while Edith Very, a former director of the Emma Willard School of Art in Troy, served as director of the school. Very also taught drawing and painting. The faculty included E. Marguerite Enos, instructor in illustration and portraiture; Margaret R. Pritchard, instructor in design and composition; and Alice MacCurdy, instructor in elementary and costume design and interior decoration.
In 1912, Enos designed a promotional poster for the school depicting a woman painting outdoors. Copies survive in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
The school also offered evening classes for working adults and specialized instruction for prospective art teachers. Its teacher-training courses were approved by the New York State Education Department.
The surviving catalogue provides a detailed record of an Albany
Photographed by Trudi Jacobson
3. 1912 school poster by E.M. Enos
The poster is in the public domain.
Sources
Albany School of Fine Arts. The Albany School of Fine Arts: Catalogue, 1913–1914. Pages 2–9, especially the sections on administration, faculty, curriculum, and handicrafts. Digitized by Google and available through HathiTrust Digital Library.
Library of Congress. The Albany School of Fine Arts, 52 South Swan St., Albany, N.Y., poster by E. M. Enos, 1912. Library of Congress catalogue record.
United States Bureau of Education. Educational Directory, 1914.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 25, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
