Campus Life in 1936

Aerial Photograph of the East Lake Campus, undated.

Today, Special Collection wanted to share some photos from 1936.

From 1884 until 1957, Howard College, now known as Samford University, was located on a property in the Birmingham area of East Lake. Known today as the East Lake Campus, it was home to the campus for over seventy years. 

One small collection of photographs (SCAV 929) the Special Collection does have is from 1936 illustrating major events on campus like the graduation, registration and stunt night. Unfortunately, many of these photographs are damaged. Even so, they offer a window into campus life in the 1930s.

Five female graduates from Howard College in regalia in 1936.

Students performing in Stunt Night, 1936.

Registration day at Howard College, 1936.

Graduation exercises in 1936.

Eleven female students pose for a photo on the grass in 1936.

Despite the long period of time that Howard College occupied East Lake, there are few photographs of the campus. In part due to the fact that there was not a campus photographer on staff.  So, the Special Collection is extra grateful to have these photos of campus activities in the 1930s.

Text and photographs are from Rachel Cohen in the Special Collection. 

Thanks, Rachel, for all of your work.  

Why whiteboards? Why not!

The Samford University Library has introduced new whiteboards in open library spaces. The boards can be moved around to almost anywhere in the library.  The boards can be used by any Davis Library user or users.

The whiteboards in their native spaces, roaming around the reading room.

 If you need to brainstorm, alone or with a group, whiteboards can be handy.

And a fantastic Friday to you, too!

We hope that these whiteboards will improve the way you study.  Enjoy!

A Look Back to Step Sing 1976

The Wright Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The official dedication of the new auditorium took place on January 22, 1976. In March, students competing in Step Sing were the first to perform on Samford’s new stage. Six hundred students participated with 16 groups competing.

Step Sing that year was considered a bicentennial celebration in honor of our nation’s 200th anniversary. Many of the competing groups used the bicentennial as a theme for their program.
The awards were divided into divisions.

The winners were Alpha Delta Phi in the Sorority Division, the Ministerial Association won the Organizational Division, and the Freshmen received top honors in the Class Division.  Sigma Nu won the Fraternity Division and took home the Sweepstakes Trophy by performing original songs written by fraternity members Rex Hammock and Racy Evers.

Text and photographs supplied by Jennifer Taylor, Director, Special Collection.

The Madwoman of Challiot

This year, the School of the Arts is turning 100 years old.

In honor of that celebration, the Special Collection department wanted to share some photographs of the play Madwoman of Challiot which was performed twice in campus. The Masquers, the campus drama club and predecessor to the Theater Department, performed the play in 1966 and then again in 1972.

The play tells the story of Countess Aurelia, the madwoman of the title, who with the help of a team of eccentrics, stops corrupt businessmen from drilling for oil in the center of Paris.

The Madwoman of Challiot cast in 1966.

We don’t know the exact order of the photo, but according to our records the cast in 1966 was Becky Bates, Dedaliles, Linda Lee Bolen, Harriett Gibbs, Ken Hall, Dale Vinson, Sonny Helton, Mattlyn Wren, Eddie Austin, Bil Almquist, Fred Moss, Orbie Medders, John Pollett, Cleve Paine, Mike McCall, Sidney White, Jack Stewart, Jim Etheredge, Cathi Ford, Martha Jarrett, Harla McCundy, Hunter Simpson, Caryl Hawkins, Carolyn Rudd, Ken Wolfskill, Bill Pendergrass, Joe Wingand and Rodney Fitzgerald.

The Madwoman of Challiot in performance in 1972.

While we don’t know the names of all the actors in the 1972 performance, we do know it was one of two plays performed that year. The other was “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”.

Text and photographs supplied by Rachel Cohen, Special Collection.  Thanks, Rachel!