December 29th, 1841 - Howard College Incorporated

Although the celebration of Samford's 175th anniversary has been in full swing for a little while now, it was on this day in 1841 that the state of Alabama officially recognized Samford University as a corporate institution of academic learning. The school was incorporated as Howard College in Marion, Alabama under the leadership of 15 trustees.  Happy Birthday, Samford!

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

Want to find out more? Check out this selection from the Special Collection Treasures collection.

December 19th, 1871 -- Birmingham is Incorporated

On this day in 1871, The city of Birmingham was incorporated by an act of the Alabama state legislature that authorized the governor to appoint a mayor and eight aldermen.  This act also authorized the mayor to require that all males between the ages of 18 and 45 be required to work five days a year on the streets and avenues of the city.

Image courtesy of the University Library Special Collection

The full text of the act that established the city of Birmingham may be found by clicking here.

A view of Birmingham in 1873. Image courtesy of the University Library Special Collection

The city grew to over 26,000 residents by 1890, earning the name "the Magic City" for suddenly appearing where seemingly nothing had been before.

More information about Birmingham's early years -- including a list of the buildings shown in the above photograph -- may be found by clicking here.

Happy birthday, Magic City!

Library 2016 Holiday Hours

We've made it through another round of final exams, and extra-special CONGRATULATIONS to all our December graduates who get to see their #SamfordStories culminate with Fall Commencement tomorrow!

The University Library will begin holiday hours today.  Our holiday schedule is:

• Friday, December 16th -- 7:30am - 5:00pm

• Saturday & Sunday, December 17th & 18th -- CLOSED

• Monday, December 19th through Thursday, December 22nd -- 7:30am - 5:00pm

• Friday, December 23rd through Monday, January 2nd -- CLOSED

We will reopen with Jan Term hours on January 3rd. 

From the Howard Crimson, 1941, courtesy of the Samford Library Special Collection

We wish you and yours peace, love, and joy this holiday season.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

אנו מאחלים לכם שלום , אהבה ,ושמחה בעונת החגים

نتمنى لكم السلام والمحبة و الفرح في عطلة هذا الموسم

我们祝你平安，爱和喜悦这个假期

Ni deziras al vi pacon , amon kaj ĝojon ĉi ferio sezono

우리는 당신에게 평화 , 사랑, 기쁨 이 휴가 시즌 을 기원합니다

Мы желаем

вам мира , любви, радости и в этот праздничный сезон 

私たちはあなたの平和、愛、喜び、このホリデーシーズンにしたいです

Vi önskar dig fred, kärlek och glädje denna feriesäsong.

tam, bang je yImaq DaneHchugh maH maqtagh QI'lop

Stress, Snowflakes and Slices

Finals are, understandably, a time of great stress among Samford's students... so we at the library plan stress-busting activities for those who need a break from their caffeine-fueled marathon study sessions.  Two of the most popular diversions this semester have been the make-a-snowflake station by the Circulation Desk and the late-night pizza break.  Thanks to everyone who participated in each (or both) of these stressbusters!

197 Years of Statehood

On this day in 1819, the Sixteenth Congress passed a resolution declaring the admission of Alabama as the 22nd state of the United States of America.

Click here to read the full text of the resolution, courtesy of the Library of Congress


This map shows what the state looked like in 1819 along with the number of representatives to the Alabama Constitutional Convention from each of the counties.  According to the 1820 census, the largest city in the new state was Mobile with 1,500 residents.

From Alabama Congressional and Legislative Representation by William Letford, courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

December 5th, 1841, S.S. Sherman accepts presidency of future Samford University

175 years ago today, Samuel Sterling Sherman accepted a leadership position for a new school founded in Marion, Alabama.  

Sherman's acceptance letter, p. 1

Sherman's acceptance letter, p.2

At that time, Sherman was 26 years old and studying under Basil Manly, President of The University of Alabama. 

Dr. Manly, his mentor, recommended to Sherman that he not take on the new school. He believed there would not be sufficient funding and the school would not last long. 

A young Samuel Sterling Sherman, first President of the future Samford University

However, Sherman was hopeful. He resigned his tutorship at The University of Alabama and committed himself to commanding the new enterprise. That school is what became Samford University.

To learn more about Sherman's acceptance letter and for a better look at the text, visit the Special Collection Treasure about the letter.

Thanks to Jennifer Taylor, Head of the University Archives and Special Collection for providing text and photographs.

Library Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

The library will be closed Wednesday, November 23rd, through Saturday, November 26th, 2016, for Thanksgiving.

We will re-open at 6pm on Sunday, November 27th.

We wish all of the members of the Samford family a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Photograph of female student gathering ingredients as part of Home Economics department, 1966.  For the record, the author was unable to locate photographs in the Samford Digital Archives featuring men cooking.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Library Open House, Friday, November 11th, 10am-2pm

In celebration of Samford’s 175th Anniversary, several events will be taking place in the library on November 11th,  including an open house on the first floor of the library.  

The first matriculation record, where President Sherman listed the names of the first students to attend Samford University (Howard College) in January 1842. 

From 10am until 2pm we will host Samford Memories and Treasures: 175 Years in Review, showcasing Samford history through treasured artifacts and documents that have been preserved since our beginnings in Marion, Alabama. 

A Navy V-12 Uniform that belonged to J.B. Davis.

In the afternoon, honored dignitaries will be gathering on the second floor in preparation for the 175th Anniversary Convocation taking place at 2:30 in the Wright Center. 

You are invited to join us and participate in these once in a lifetime events. 

Light refreshments will be served on the first floor during the open house.

To find out more about Samford’s history and all of the events surrounding the 175th anniversary celebration, visit https://www.samford.edu/175/. 

We hope to see you there!

Getting materials related to President Sherman and Marion, Alabama ready for display.

While you were away...

We made some noise in the library during the quiet summer hours to improve your library experience!

Using funds raised during The Big Give campaign in Spring, we have added charging stations to the tops of most study tables on the second and third floors of the library.

Thanks for the hard work during installation!

Our goal is to make it easier to plug in your computers and peripherals while you spend time in the library.

New power strips on tables in the second floor Reading Room.

The library is always striving to make your experience in the library more comfortable and efficient. 

Welcome to Fall Semester 2016! We can't wait to see you back in the library!  

Celebrating Nursing

Did you know that the School of Nursing, now part of the College of Health Sciences, wasn't always part of Samford University? Back when it started in the 1920s, it was part of the Birmingham Baptist Hospital. 

A Pair of Nursing Students in 1924.

Verla Sexton is the student on the left, but her friend on the right isn't identified. 

Class of 1929 Nursing Graduates.

The Birmingham Baptist Association established the Birmingham Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1922. One of our earliest class photos is this graduating class from 1929. When these women graduated, the school of nursing was only seven years old. 

Miss Birmingham Baptist Hosptial in 1966.

Along with having a nursing school, the Birmingham Baptist Hospital School of Nursing had lots of activities for their nursing students. They had their own publication called the Black Band and their own pageant for the Miss Birmingham Baptist Hospital. 

First Dean of the Nursing School at Samford University was Laurene Gilmore.

In 1973, the nursing program transferred to Samford University and began offering associate and baccalaureate degrees in nursing. 

Nursing students practice prenatal care.

The nursing school moved to its current home in the Dwight and Lucille Beeson Center for the Healing Arts on Samford's campus in 1988. Though undated, according to some of our friends at the Nursing school, we think this photo from that era. 

And just a few months ago, the Nursing School joined with the new College of Health Sciences and migrated to the former Southern Progress building. 

Proud Nursing Alumnae in 1966.

The Special Collection is excited for this new chapter in the Nursing School's long life, and we thought it would be fun to share some photos and materials from the Nursing School that are in our collections.

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

Alabama Churches

The Special Collection recently finished digitizing over a hundred photos of Baptist churches throughout the state of Alabama. While we're still getting them uploaded into our online system for everyone to see, we thought we'd show off a few of our favorites. 

These photos come from SCAV 960, a collection of photos of Baptist churches from the 1950s and 1960s that were gathered by the Alabama Baptist Historical Commision. Sadly, most of the photos are not dated and on some there is no location, so we've not always been able to percisely ID each of the churches in question. After all, churches sure do like the have the same names. 

Hanceville First Bapitst Church

Hanceville First Baptist Church in Hanceville Alabama is a member of the East Cullman Association. We don't have a date on this photo, but we're thinking it is from the 1950s. 

 First Baptist Church in Steppville, Alabama

We don't know much about this church, but we love the photo. No association has been able to be verified for the church. So, if anyone recognizes this door, we'd love to know. 

Philadelphia Baptist Church, Phenix City, Alabama

This is Philadelphia Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama. Philadelphia Baptist Church is a member of the Russell Baptist Association. 

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama

Here's Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama. After some digging, we've traced the church to the Morgan Baptist Association, but we're not certain about that. Sadly, this great old photograph is creased in the center, causing considerable damage. 

 Union Grove in Morgan County

One of our more mysterious churches, Union Grove is identified on the photograph as a member of the Gillam Springs Association, but the Gillam Springs Association no longer exists. We haven't been able to find the church in another association and Union Grove is a very common church name. If anyone recognizes this church, please contact the Special Collection at scdept@samford.edu. We'd love to track it down. 

And that's it! Just a few of our newly digitized church photos. We're always adding more, so check out our Alabama Religious Life digital collections online.

Thanks, once again, to Rachel Cohen of the Special Collection and University Archives for blog text and photographs.

Alabama Churches

The Special Collection recently finished digitizing over a hundred photos of Baptist churches throughout the state of Alabama. While we're still getting them uploaded into our online system for everyone to see, we thought we'd show off a few of our favorites. 

These photos come from SCAV 960, a collection of photos of Baptist churches from the 1950s and 1960s that were gathered by the Alabama Baptist Historical Commision. Sadly, most of the photos are not dated and on some there is no location, so we've not always been able to percisely ID each of the churches in questions. After all, churches sure do like the have the same name. 

Hanceville First Bapitst Church

Hanceville First Baptist Church in Hanceville Alabama is a member of the East Cullman Association. We don't have a date on this photo, but we're thinking it is from the 1950s. 

 First Baptist Church in Steppville, Alabama

We don't know much about this church, but love the photo. No association has been able to be verified for the church. So, if anyone recoginizes this door, we'd love to know. 

Philadelphia Baptist Church, Phenix City, Alabama

Philadelphia Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama. Philadelphia Baptist Church is a member of the Russell Baptist Association. 

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama. After some digging, we've traced the church to the Morgan Baptist Association, but we're not certain about that. Sadly, this great old photograph is creased in the center, causing considerable damage. 

 Union Grove in Morgan County

One of our more mysterious churches, Union Grove is identifed on the photopgraph as a member of the Gillam Springs Association, but the Gillam Springs Association no longer exists. We haven't been able to find the church is another association and Union Grove is a very common church name. If anyone recognizes this church, please contact the Special Collection at scdept@samford.edu (Link to Email) . We'd love to track it down. 

And that's it! Just a few of our newly digitized church photos. We're always adding more, so check out our Alabama Relgious Life digital collections online.

Thanks, once again, to Rachel Cohen of the Special Collection and University Archives for blog text and photographs.

Library Closed for Independence Day

The Samford University library will be closed on Monday, July 4th, to observe Independence Day.

The anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 commemorates the signing of the document which declared:

 "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

The American revolutionaries declared the thirteen original colonies to be independent states, free of British rule.

© UPI

Have a safe and blessed holiday!  

The library will re-open as usual at 7:30 am on July 5.

The First Summer School

A Group of Howard College's First Summer School Students 

Originally published in the Howard College Bulletin in July 1915, this rare photo shows our first class of Education students.

The photo caption tells us that, "In order to provide for the extension of teachers' certificates, Howard College established a Department of Education with the opening of its first summer school, June 7. The school for teachers was run in conjunction with the summer school for college students. About fifty students were registered the first summer. Professor James W. Norman, recently named to the faculty of the School of Education of the University of Minnesota, was Dean of the Summer School. The school closed July 16."

So, this group of students were some of our first Education students ever! And they started classes here 101 years ago today.

Celebrating 10 Years with Dr. Westmoreland!

Early Thursday morning on June, 1, 2006, Dr. Andrew Westmoreland entered the office of the president and sat behind his new desk. This brought the beginning of a new era for Samford University and a new era for Dr. Westmoreland. Before coming to Samford, Dr. Westmoreland served as a leader for Ouachita Baptist University for over twenty-seven years. He was elected president of Ouachita in 1998. His predecessor at Samford, Dr. Corts, retired on May 31 after twenty-three years of service.

Dr. Andrew Westmoreland

In unlocking the door for the first time, Dr. Westmoreland chose not to use the shiny new keys presented to him earlier in the week. Instead, he chose to use the keys left for him by the previous president, Dr. Corts. Dr. Westmoreland's choice in using the old keys served as a link to the tradition and legacy left behind by his predecessor. Dr. Westmoreland wrote about the legacy and the keys in his first email to the faculty and staff of the university.

 

Dr. Westmoreland brought with him a pen presented to him by the members of the faculty and staff at Ouachita. The pen was crafted from the remains of the first building constructed at Ouachita’s campus. The building burned in 1949.

Business cards were printed weeks before Dr. Westmoreland's arrival on campus. The first business card printed for the new president is now a part of the archives of the university.

Dr. Westmoreland's valise, a gift from Dr. Bob C. Riley of Arkansas

As Dr. Westmoreland opened the door to his office, he carried with him a leather valise given to him just prior to his first day at Ouachita in June of 1979. The valise was given to him by his friend and mentor, Dr. Bob C. Riley, a former chair of the political science department at Ouachita, lieutenant-governor and governor of Arkansas. Dr. and Mrs. Westmoreland treasured their relationship with Dr. Riley. Their daughter Riley is named for him.

This post is an adaptation of an earlier feature in the Special Collection Treasures, found here: http://library.samford.edu/about/sc/treasure/2006/westmoreland.html.

Thanks, as always, to the University Archives and Special Collection for their amazing work.

New Study Room Feature pre-Finals!

Two weeks ago we quietly added a new feature to the library’s website:  a live view of study room availability.  

You’ll find the link in the quick link menu, lower right side of the home page, and at the top of the study room policy page. There’s also an image in the rotating image feature on the right side of the page.

Quick Links are on the bottom right of library.samford.edu.

Or:

Click, click, click!

Click here, too!

The information has always been in the catalog, we simply created a link directly to it. 

The list of study rooms uses the library catalog’s availability status display to show if the key to each room is available, checked out and due (date/time), or recently returned.

Note that the page does NOT show the media rooms on the first floor or the lab study rooms on the lower level.

Keep calm, guys, and use this cool new feature!

Spring, Stress, Haiku 2016

Do not fret, Samford.  
Doors close, doors open, assignments 
End, and so does stress.  

Feeling inspired by the loveliness that surrounds you on our campus and in the beauty of the Earth?

Blind to the budding trees and blooming flowers due to looming deadlines?

Beginning to contemplate life beyond this semester or the confines of college?

Send us your meditations that follow the short poem structure of haiku.

You can use the form embedded below.

You can also email your haiku to reference@samford.edu.

Breathe deep, seek peace, Samford.

Live @ the Library featuring Jon Acuff! Get your tickets now!

Author and Samford University alumnus Jon Acuff will discuss his latest book and the "four big things every adventure with God requires" at Live @ the Library Friday, April 8. 

There will be a 6 p.m. VIP reception in Harwell G. Davis Library followed by a presentation and book signing at 7 p.m. in Brock Recital Hall.

Jon Acuff, Samford JMC Alumnus

Tickets start at $25 and are also available at the Samford Box Office in Swearingen Hall. 

Each attendee will receive a complimentary hard copy of Do Over: Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work, and Never Get Stuck.

Jon Acuff's Do Over. Each attendee gets a complimentary copy!

Acuff’s book discusses the four areas all great careers share: relationships, skills, character and hustle. In it, he covers how to invest in these areas in order to be prepared to handle inevitable career bumps, jumps, ceilings and opportunities.

Live @ the Library is an annual event hosted by the University Library to bring awareness to accomplished Samford-affiliated authors. This year’s event will be sponsored by EBSCO, and proceeds will go to the library.

Acuff, a 1998 Samford graduate, is a New York Times bestselling author of five books. For 18 years, he has helped some of the biggest brands tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples and the Dave Ramsey Team. His blogs have been read by more than four million people, and he has more than 250,000 Twitter followers.

Jon Acuff, Live @ the Library, April 8.

Acuff lives with his wife, Jenny, and his two daughters in Franklin, Tennessee.

This is a reprint of an article by Aly Hathcock, originally published in the Samford Crimson.  Aly is a journalism and mass communication major and a news and feature writer in the Office of Marketing and Communication.