The History of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute is predated by only a few years by that of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, which was established on April 23, 1847.

On July 2, 1851, the Oblates arrived and opened a school chartered on March 12, 1851, under the name "The Buffalo College of St. Joseph," which Bishop Timon said, "...exists for missionary and no other purpose."

In response to numerous requests from clergy and parents, and after being closed for two years, St. Joseph's College reopened in September 1893.

Due to the railroad station at Union Terrace and the encroachment of business and manufacturing interests, the Delaware Avenue site was no longer a desirable one.

For what they knew would be a temporary stay, the Brothers rented a two-story brick building at 473 Prospect Avenue near Jersey Street which housed about fifty pupils during each of the four years the school occupied it.

However, construction was delayed by inadequate transportation to the northern parts of the city, the Great Depression starting in 1929, and then World War II.

Ground was broken at the new location on March 1, 1949, and, on October 2 of that year, the cornerstone was blessed by Bishop John O'Hara.

In the years to follow, the new facility allowed for increases in both the size of the student body and the number of faculty members.

On November 16, 2006, it was announced that alumnus Jack Cullen had made a gift of $2 million to support construction of new science laboratories and classrooms, as well as the annual school musical.

The campus of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute (SJCI or St. Joe's) is located at 845 Kenmore Avenue in the town of Tonawanda[8][9] and rests on 11.9 acres (48,000 m2).

[10] Athletics are also an integral part of the St. Joe's experience and students are able to take advantage of both indoor and outdoor facilities.

[11] In addition to interscholastic competition, St. Joe's offers a number of intramural athletic programs and maintains a vocal group of student supporters at their major sports events.

Extracurriculars offered include the Swing Choir, Jazz Lab Band, Fall Play, and Spring Musical.