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The Samford University Library's Digital Collection includes unique digital material centered on the history of Samford University, the history of the Birmingham metropolitan area, the history of Alabama, and religious life in Alabama.

Samford University Photographs Collection

This collection of images documents student and faculty life, sporting activities, classroom scenes, events and buildings related to Samford University, once called Howard College. Howard College was founded in Marion, Alabama in 1841. In 1887, it moved to the East Lake area of Birmingham. In 1957, the campus was moved to Homewood, right outside of Birmingham. In 1965, Howard College changed its name to Samford University.

The Samford Crimson

Howard College began publication of the student-run newspaper The Howard Crimson in 1915. In 1965, the newspaper was renamed The Samford Crimson. Many alumni and faculty that have built and left their mark on the University reside in this digitized resource.

Historical Alabama Photographs Collection

Explore Alabama history in this collection of historical photographs. While many of the photographs are centered on the Birmingham-metro area, the collection also documents the social, political, and economic life of Alabamians across the state over the past two centuries. 

Alabama Churches and Religious Life Photographs

This collection of images documents the church buildings and activities of many Christian denominations throughout Alabama with a focus on Baptist activities. The Special Collection Department at Samford University serves as the repository for the Alabama Baptist State Convention and strives to preserve the rich religious history of the state.

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Select one or more terms from one or more categories below to discover materials relevant to your research. The number of results is automatically displayed next to the 'Search' button upon selection. When multiple terms are selected from within a single category, results may include either term (implied Boolean OR). However, when terms are selected from multiple categories, results will include terms from all chosen categories (implied Boolean AND).

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The Samford University Digital Collection may contain materials that are offensive to some. These items reflect the perspectives, social norms, and biases of the time-period in which they were created. While the Special Collection Department does not endorse the views expressed in these materials, we have made these items available to the public for purposes of transparency and research.