Director’s Welcome

Welcome to Lackawanna College’s Seeley Memorial Library! Whatever your research needs may be our knowledgeable staff of the library is here and always eager to help and assist you. I highly encourage you to come to the library to meet the staff and to become familiar with the collection. Whether you are looking for assistance with research assignments, or just a quiet place to study, think, or take a breather, our library is the place to be! I would also encourage you to take full advantage of the many databases and journals. These can easily be found here in our computer lab, or from anywhere you have computer access. If you need any help at all from outside the library, simply email, phone or click on the “Ask here PA” icon found on the library webpage. We will help you to learn how to use the library effectively, which will help you achieve academic success and guide you along the path to lifelong learning. Enjoy your time here at Lackawanna College.

To your future success!

Library Director

The History Behind the Seeley Memorial Library

The Seeley Family first became connected with Lackawanna Business College in 1903 when John H. Seeley acquired a half interest in that school…which he had attended. The following year, he became sole owner. Eight years later, he purchased Scranton Business College, founded in 1894, merged it with his institution, and in 1912 it became Scranton Lackawanna Business College. Under Seeley’s leadership, the college grew and prospered.

Mr. Seeley’s sons, Hoyle and Sterling, joined the school in 1918, assuming teaching and administrative positions. During the Great Depression, none of the Seeleys accepted a salary in order to keep the entire faculty working and paid. The Seeley Administration also postponed tuition payments from students until they gained employment. Following the death of John Seeley in 1947, his sons continued to operate the college.

Lackawanna Junior College was incorporated as a non-profit institution in 1957 and was granted permission to award Associates Degrees. Under the college’s restructuring, the first Board of Trustees consisted of five members of the Seeley family. It was not until 1970 that Lackawanna Junior College saw its first president who was not a member of the Seeley family. Lackawanna College is now the official name of the school, having dropped “Junior” from its name in order to reflect the growth in enrollment and degree offerings.