Kelly Adirondack Center of Union College

In 2011, Union College strengthened its historic relationship with the Adirondacks by purchasing the former home of conservationist Paul Schaefer. The home, located in nearby Niskayuna, houses the Adirondack Research Library, which boasts a unique collection of material on the Adirondack Park and the New York State Forest Preserve, including rare books, maps, photographs, documents and the personal papers of some of the region’s foremost conservationists.

The result is the Kelly Adirondack Center at Union College, which offers exciting opportunities to advance Union’s understanding of the mountains, wilderness and waterways of this tremendous natural resource. The Center allows Union to affirm its long connection with the Adirondacks, preserve the educational mission that has been central to the Adirondack Research Library and increase our curricular and co-curricular programming related to the Adirondacks.

The purpose of Union College’s Kelly Adirondack Center is to engage the campus community and the wider public with the interdisciplinary study of the Adirondacks and the complex relationships between nature and society. 

The Adirondack Research Library and Kelly Adirondack Center is open to the public Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and by appointment.