Maria Sanford was born in Saybrook, Connecticut. Her love for education began early; at the age of 16 she was already teaching in county day schools. She graduated with honors from Connecticut Normal School (now Central Connecticut State University), using her dowry funds for tuition. She rose in the ranks of local and national educators, becoming principal and superintendent of schools in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She took the place of Anna Hallowell and served as professor of history at Swarthmore College from 1871 to 1880. She was one of the first women named to a college professorship. Dr. William Watts Folwell, President of the University of Minnesota at the time, invited Maria to join the faculty. She did so enthusiastically. Dr. Folwell declared hiring Maria Sanford was one of his proudest achievements. During her tenure at the university (1880–1909) Maria Sanford was a professor of rhetoric and elocution, and she lectured on literature and art history. Maria made strong connections with her students and challenged them with surprise tests and poetry recitations. She held student social events in her home and gave speeches to organizations and groups across the nation. She was a champion of women’s rights, supported the education of blacks, pioneered the concept of adult education, and became a founder of parent-teacher organizations. Notably, however, she resisted universal suffrage until her late seventies. Sanford was also a leader in the conservation and beautification program of her new state. She retired in 1909. However, that did not stop Maria from reaching out to the community and nation with the power of her speeches. She traveled throughout the United States delivering more than 1000 patriotic speeches, the most famous being the powerful address An Apostrophe to the Flag, that she delivered at a national Daughters of the American Revolution convention. Maria became head director for Northwestern Hospital and created the Minneapolis Improvement League. She was also picked in 1920 to give a speech at the state celebration of the passing of the 19th amendment.

In 1910, the University of Minnesota constructed Sanford Hall in honor of Maria. In 1964 they expanded the building by adding on a “Tower” to house more students. It was originally built to house the women of the campus. In the 1970s, the hall became coeducational, and housed 502 residents. Maria Sanford died on April 21, 1920, at the age of 83. In June of that year the University of Minnesota held a memorial convocation in her honor. Her death made the cover of the Minneapolis Tribune. A school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was named Maria Sanford Junior High (now called Sanford Middle School) in memory of her. An elementary school in Montevideo, Minnesota, too, was named Maria L. Sanford Elementary School. She was called “the best loved woman of the North Star State.” Additionally, an academic hall, Maria Sanford Hall, at Central Connecticut State University is named after her. In 1958, Minnesota picked Maria to represent the state in Statuary Hall.