Talladega College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Talladega College

Savery Library
Latin: Collegium Talladegense
Former names	Swayne School (1867–1869)
Motto	An Education of Distinction
Type	Private historically black college
Established	1867
Religious affiliation	United Church of Christ
President	Gregory J. Vincent
Students	1,307 (fall 2020)
Location	Talladega , Alabama , United States 33°25′56″N 86°6′47″W / 33.43222°N 86.11306°W / 33.43222; -86.11306
Campus	Rural 50 acres (20.2 ha) main campus
Colors	Crimson & Sky Blue
Nickname	Tornadoes
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – GCAC
Mascot	Dear Ole' Dega, Dega, TC
Website	www.talladega.edu

Talladega College is a private college located in Talladega, Alabama. It is known as a historically black college, meaning it was founded to provide education for Black students, especially after slavery ended. It is the oldest private historically black college in Alabama and offers 17 different study programs. The college is officially recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

History of Talladega College

The story of Talladega College began on November 20, 1866. Two formerly enslaved men from Talladega, William Savery and Thomas Tarrant, attended a meeting in Mobile, Alabama. This meeting was for newly freed people and was organized by the Freedmen's Bureau. The Freedmen's Bureau was a government agency set up after the Civil War to help formerly enslaved people.

From this meeting, Savery and Tarrant, along with Ambrose Headen, decided to create a school for the children of their community. They built a simple one-room schoolhouse from old lumber. It quickly became too small because so many students wanted to learn.

Around that time, a building called the Coosa River Valley Baptist Academy was going to be sold. This building had been constructed in 1852 using the labor of enslaved people, including William Savery, Thomas Tarrant, and Ambrose Headen themselves. They asked General Swayne for help. Major General Wager Swayne of the Freedmen's Bureau helped buy the land. The American Missionary Association, a group that supported education for formerly enslaved people, bought the building. The total cost for the land and building was $23,000.

The American Missionary Association renamed the school The Swayne School. It opened in November 1867 with about 140 students. It's amazing that a building built by enslaved people for white students became the first college in Alabama for Black students. In 1869, the school officially became Talladega College.

The original building, now called Swayne Hall, is still used today. It stands as a symbol of the college's beginnings. By 1909, the college had grown to nearly 800 students, offering programs from elementary grades to college and teacher training.

Campus and Buildings

Built in 1857, Swayne Hall is the oldest building on campus. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Talladega College is located in the city of Talladega, Alabama. The campus covers about 50 acres and has 17 main buildings. Many of these buildings, 32 in total, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

• Savery Library was finished in 1939. It replaced an older library built with money from Andrew Carnegie. The library has many books, a computer lab, and a special Archives Room. It also holds the famous Amistad murals painted by Hale Woodruff. On the floor of the library, there is a mural of La Amistad, a ship where enslaved people bravely fought for their freedom. College tradition says you should never step on this mural. The library also has the Galangue Room, which displays a large collection of artifacts from Angola and Nigeria.

• Andrews Hall, built in 1910, is home to the Music Department and the Education Department. It is named after George Whitfield Andrews, who was a dean at the college for many years.

• Arthur D. Shores Hall was built in 1974. It is named after Arthur D. Shores, a college graduate and a long-time chairman of the college's Board of Trustees.

• De Forest Chapel was built in 1903. It honors the life of Rev. Henry Swift De Forest, who was president of the college from 1879 to 1896. The chapel was updated in 1996.

• Dr. William R. Harvey Museum of Art was created in 2014 and opened in 2020. The most important artworks in its collection are the Amistad Mutiny murals by Hale Woodruff.

• Fanning Refectory was built in 1928. This building contains the dining rooms where students and faculty eat.

• Juliette Derricotte House, built in 1940–41, was named for Juliette Derricotte, a graduate and trustee of the college. It used to be a guest house but is now a dormitory for women who achieve high academic results.

• Silsby Science Hall, built in 1926, is named after E. C. Silsby, a faculty member for 37 years. This building has laboratories and classrooms for science and math classes.

• The Dr. Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center was completed in 2020. It is named after the college's 20th president. This large building has a 2,000-seat gym, a dining hall, a coffee lounge, a store, a fitness area, and other rooms for activities.

Athletics

Talladega College's sports teams are called the Tornadoes. The college is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is a national organization for college sports. The Tornadoes compete in the Continental Athletic Conference.

Talladega College offers 16 different sports for students.

• Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field.
• Women's sports include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball.
• There are also co-ed sports like competitive cheer and competitive dance.

Marching Band

The Talladega College Tornado Marching Band, also known as "The Great Tornado," started in 2012. It is the largest group on campus, with over 200 members. The band is led by five drum majors and has a dance team called "Dega Diamonds." The marching band has performed at big events like the Honda Battle of the Bands and the 2017 U.S. presidential inauguration parade in Washington, D.C. They have also performed at halftime for the New Orleans Saints football team.

Notable Alumni