Throwback Thursday - 1898 Student Body

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

This week's "Throwback Thursday" takes us all the way back to 1898, where we see the entire Howard College student body.  It was an all-boys school at the time and there weren't many students.  They also wore woolen cadet uniforms -- which sounds downright awful in the Alabama heat!

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

For this week's "Throwback Thursday" we bring you Ingalls Hall as it was being constructed in the mid-1950s.  Listed here as the "General Science" building, it became home to the McWhorter School of Pharmacy for many years.  Today, this building is once again under renovation to become something new.

Throwback Thursday - Gwendolyn Brooks on Campus, 1995

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

Twenty-three years ago this month, famed American poet Gwendolyn Brooks visited the campus as part of the Samford Speakers Series.  She is pictured here with then-SGA President Eric Motley, who himself will be speaking March 1st as part of the 2018 Tom & Marla Corts Distinguished Author Series.

In 1950, Ms. Brooks became the first African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.  She would also receive the Robert Frost Medal and the National Medal of Arts, among many other awards.  She also became the first African American woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1976.

Mr. Motley served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and is currently an executive vice president at the Aspen Institute.  His memoir, Madison Park: A Place of Hope, has been listed on Oprah Winrey's "10 Titles to Pick up Now."  Those interested in attending his upcoming event can find more information and ticket prices by clicking here.

Throwback Thursday - 1973 Circle K Club and 1972 Step Sing

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

The first of today's "Throwback Thursday" images is a look at the 1973 Circle K Club.  This image is one of three that grace the current issue of "Inside Samford," but the club members aren't identified.

Standing from left to right are Mr. Allen Hayse, Doug Moore, Steve Aycock, Rose Godsey, Brenda Griffith, Suzanne Mc Milan, Judy O'Mary, Debbie Cumbie, Sylvia Guarisco, Ginger Belcher, Beth Powell and  Jim Beekman.  Kneeling from left to right are Tommy McLoed, Tim Wright, Larry Jones, Rick Dill, Gary Robbins, Ken Turney, Gerard Farris and John Harris.

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

The second "Throwback Thursday" image is in celebration of Step Sing 2018 kicking off tonight. In 1972, Alpha Phi Omega's riverboat-themed performance earned them first place in the Organizational Division.  So who are YOU rooting for this year?

Throwback Thursday - 1964 Step Sing Rehearsal

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

Students returned to campus for the 2018 Spring Term on Monday, and one of the first items on the agenda for many was to start practicing for Step Sing (it's a good thing too, as this year it will be held not too long from now -- February 8th-10th).  So with that in mind, this week's "Throwback Thursday" shows some of their predecessors rehearsing for the event in 1964.  For some reason the "Woody's Roundup" song from Toy Story 2 is playing through my head.

While Step Sing is a huge production nowadays, it has humble roots at Samford's East Lake campus (where it was known then as Howard College) where it started as a sing-along held on the steps of Renfroe Hall in 1951.

If you're interested in attending this year's Step Sing, tickets go on sale online tomorrow starting at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.

Throwback Thursday - Name Change From Howard to Samford

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Howard College achieved university status in January of 1965 and, in an effort to avoid confusion with Howard University in Washington, D.C., re-named itself Samford University in honor of insurance executive and longtime trustee Frank Park Samford, Sr.

This week's "Throwback Thursday" image shows students Buddy Huey, Bill Pendergrass, Doug Gardner and Murray Howard installing a new Samford decal on a car's rear window.

Throwback Thursday and Jan Term Hours

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

As we welcome students back onto campus from what we hope was a restful (or at least fun) and joyous holiday break, we take a look back on this "Throwback Thursday" to the construction of the Homewood campus in November of 1956 -- with the library already a central fixture.  The campus would open a year after this photo was taken.

Speaking of coming back from the holidays, the library is currently running on reduced hours for Jan Term.  We are currently open 7:30am-7:00pm Monday through Thursday, 7:30am-5:00pm on Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday, and 1:00pm-7:00pm on Sunday.  In addition, the library will be CLOSED on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

We will resume our regular weekly operating hours with the start of the Spring Term on Monday, January 22nd.

For more information about the library's hours of operation, please click here.

Throwback Thursday - Studying in the Library, 1945

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

As final exams are winding down, we present for this week's "Throwback Thursday" a scene that was re-enacted many times this past week -- students studying in the East Lake campus library in 1945.

This image was originally published in "Educational Opportunities Offered to Veterans at Howard College," a November 1945 promotional brochure advertising the school to veterans of World War II.  The original caption read "Library Scene: Howard's library is a popular gathering place for students. Below, civilians and Navy trainees share a library table."  It would seem that 72 years later that's still the case.

We hope everyone's exams went well this week -- and if you still have any today, GOOD LUCK!

Throwback Thursday - 1928 Biology Class

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

Today's "Throwback Thursday" goes back to the East Lake campus in 1928 where biology students are taking part in a group lab dissection (some clearly more happily than others).  This image was originally published in the "Yea Howard!" special issue of the Howard College Bulletin from July of that year.

Throwback Thursday - 1955 Homecoming Parade

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

As we prepare to welcome back our alumni for Homecoming this weekend, here's a look back to 1955 when our Howard Homecoming Parade had literary masterpieces as its theme.  Here's hoping our Bulldogs create their own "masterpiece" on the field Saturday!

Throwback Thursday - 1945 Ladies Gym Class

Photo courtesy of Samford University Library Special Collection

In 1945, gym classes weren't very co-ed.  This photo shows a ladies-only gym class on our East Lake campus.

The photograph was originally published in a promotional brochure advertising Howard College to veterans as an educational opportunity.

Throwback Thursday - Marion Campus, 1870s

Photo courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

This week we visit the site of Howard College's original campus in Marion, Alabama as it appeared in the 1870s.  The barracks, dining hall and chapel are visible in this photograph, which was donated to the library by Mrs. Sam Granade in September 1960.

Throwback Thursday - Relaxing on the Lawn in 1945

Photo courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

This photograph shows Howard College students sitting out on the East Lake campus lawn socializing. Pictured are Orwin Petty, Virginia Ingram, Margaret Ann Miller, and Dot Fuller.

This was published in "Educational Opportunities Offered to Veterans at Howard College" Pictorial Bulletin 4, November 1945, page 17.  The caption read, "A Veteran Back 'In Pleasant Surroundings.'"

Throwback Thursday - 1970 Samford Students

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Campus feels so empty during the summer, so here's an image of students crossing the quad from 1970 to remind us what it feels like during the regular school year.  It also reminds us that the large trees in front of the library weren't always so large.

Throwback Thursday - Howard Students, 1895

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Back in 1895, all Howard College students wore military style uniforms.  While we don't know exactly how hot it was at the time -- the record high temperature for Birmingham on this date was 101 °F in 2010 -- it's probably safe to assume that none of these students felt cold in this picture.

Throwback Thursday - Marion Campus

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

One of the earliest pictures we have of the old Howard College campus in Marion, Alabama.  There are two dates written in pencil on the back of the photograph: 1870 and 1907.  As the college relocated to the East Lake campus in 1887 we believe the first date is more accurate.

Throwback Thursday - Old Main

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Photograph of "Old Main" building at Howard College's East Lake campus in Birmingham in 1949.  If something was happening on campus, it likely happened here.

Throwback Thursday - 1925 Glee Club

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

A photograph of the Howard College Glee club in 1925. On back the some of the students are identified as A.H. Eubank, E.N. House, Peyton A. Eurona and Frank Aokins (directing).

Throwback Thursday - Campus Construction

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Major Harwell Davis (President 1939-58), Frank P. Samford, and Paul A. Redmond at the construction site of the Homewood campus' administration building, now known as Samford Hall.

Throwback Thursday - First Summer School Students

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

If you're attending summer classes at Samford this year, you have something in common with these individuals as Howard College opened its very first summer school 102 years ago yesterday.

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 on June 7, 1915. 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, who had recently been named to the faculty of the School of Education of the University of Minnesota, was Dean of the Summer School. The school closed July 16th of that year.

We don't know how warm it was the day this picture was taken, but the record daytime high for Birmingham on this day in history is 97 °F in 1933... so the next time you're thinking you're uncomfortably hot while dressed in shorts and t-shirts, just consider the outfits they're wearing here.