A Look Back: The Laws of Howard College 1846

Cover of the Laws of Howard College published in 1846. Call Number: LD2281.24.L3 1846

Howard College, now Samford University, was founded in 1841. Classes began in 1842 and started with nine students. The student body grew, but remained very small in the early days. 

In 1846, the college published a document entitled, “Laws of Howard College, Enacted September 18th, 1846” (Call Number: LD2281.24 .L3 1846). This very slim document outlines the procedures of Howard College beginning with the board of trustees, briefly covering the student enrollment and admission. The dining hall is, of course, discussed and then the document talks about the library. 

Being a library ourselves, it’s interesting to read the rules of Howard College’s Library in 1846. For example, students were permitted only to check out two books and admonished from lending them to other or taking them out of the town. 

You can read the full text of the library rules below. 

Laws of Howard College 1, Caption: Page 7 of the Laws of Howard College, LD2281.24 .L3 1846

Laws of Howard College 2, Caption: Page 8 of the Laws of Howard College, LD2281.24 .L3 1846

After the library rules are completed, there are a few other rules, such as one forbidding students from throwing trash out of windows. That seems reasonable enough. 

If you’d like to see the whole document, feel free to come down to the Special Collection and ask for the Laws of Howard College (call number: LD2281.24 .L3 1846). 

Thanks to Rachel Cohen of the Special Collection for text and photographs.