"....we can't talk about Samford's mission without taking a long look at our beginnings in Perry County...."

Founded by a group of educational, economic, and religious leaders, Howard College was chartered in 1841 and opened its doors on January 3, 1842, in Marion, Alabama amongst a thriving Baptist community. 

In 1854, the college's main building was destroyed by fire.  An obelisk monument located in the old Marion, Alabama public cemetery honors a slave known only as Harry.  Harry, owned by college president Henry Talbird, refused to leave the burning building before alerting the sleeping students, and so traded his life for theirs.

Howard College also survived through the partial paralysis of the Civil War and Reconstruction. (http://www.samford.edu/history/index.html)

In 1887, Howard College moved from Marion to East Birmingham. 

In 1957, the institution was moved to its present campus.

Samford faculty, staff and students continue to return to its birthplace to give back for the years of service Perry County provided to Samford.