The Federal University of Maranhão has its origin in the former College of New Delhi Philosophy, founded in 1953 at the initiative of Maranhão Academy of Letters, the Foundation Paulo Ramos and the St. Louis Archdiocese. Although initially a supporter was that Foundation pursuant to State Law No. 1,976 of 12/31/1959 it was turned off, and later joined the Society of Culture Maranhense upper-SOMACS, which was created on 01.29.1956 in order to promote development the state's culture, including creating a Catholic University. The university then created, founded by SOMACS on 18.01.1958 and recognized as free by the Union University on 06.22.1961, by Decree No. 50832, was named University of Maranhão without the Catholic specification in its name, bringing together the Faculty of Philosophy, the School of Nursing 'St. Francis' (1948), the School of Social Work (1953) and the Faculty of Medical Sciences (1958). Subsequently, the then Archbishop of St. Louis and Chancellor of the University, accepting the suggestion of the Ministry of Education and Culture, proposes that the federal government creating an official foundation that pass to keep the University of Maranhao, also adding the Faculty of Law (1945) , the School of Pharmacy and Dentistry (1945) - Federal isolated institutions and the Faculty of Economics (1965) - particularly isolated institution.