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.