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.