University History

Welcome to the University History website. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our institutional history. Chartered as Howard College in 1841, the school survived two fires, the Civil War, a century of financial turmoil, and two relocations to become one of the region's top universities. From its meager beginnings in Marion, Alabama with only 31 students, Samford is now home to almost 5,000 students on a beautiful Georgian-Colonial style campus in Homewood, Alabama. Take a look through our illustrated timeline to learn more about Samford's journey.

Dwight Beeson Hall