The RSHM was established in 1849 in Béziers, France, by Père Gailhac and Mère St. Jean.

Mother Butler purchased the Florence Vanderbilt estate at 1028 Fifth Avenue in 1926 and founded Marymount School of New York.

The adjoining Pratt mansion at 1027 Fifth Avenue was acquired in 1936, and the school expanded to the Dunlevy Milbank property at 1026 in 1950.

These buildings were built in 1901 by architect C. P. H. Gilbert and the architectural firm Van Vleck & Goldsmith.

[4] Joseph Van Vleck (1876–1942) and Goldwin Goldsmith were architectural partners.