The history of Talladega College began on November 20, 1865, when two former slaves William Savery and Thomas Tarrant, both of Talladega, met in convention with a group of new freedmen in Mobile, Alabama. From this meeting came the commitment, "...We regard the education of our children and youth as vital to the preservation of our liberties, and true religion as the foundation of all real virtue, and shall use our utmost endeavors to promote these blessings in our common country." With this as their pledge, Savery and Tarrant, aided by General Wager Swayne of the Freedmen's Bureau, began in earnest to provide a school for the children of former slaves of the community. Their leadership resulted in the construction of a one-room school house using lumber salvaged from an abandoned carpenter's shop. The school overflowed with pupils from its opening and soon it was necessary to move into larger quarters. Meanwhile, the nearby Baptist Academy was about to be sold under mortgage default. This building had been built in 1852-53 with the help of slaves - including Savery and Tarrant. A speedy plea was sent to General Swayne for its purchase. General Swayne in turn persuaded the American Missionary Association to buy the building and some 20 acres (81,000 m2) of land for $23,000. The grateful parents renamed the building Swayne School and it opened in November 1867 with about 140 pupils. A building constructed before the war with slave labor for white students became the home of the state's first college dedicated to serving the educational needs of blacks. In 1869, Swayne School was issued a charter as Talladega College by the Judge of Probate of Talladega County. The former Baptists Academy building, now known as Swayne Hall, has remained in service as the symbol and spirit of the beginning of the college

Talladega College has a tradition of developing leaders since its founding in 1867. It instills in its graduates the values of intellectual excellence, hard work, and morality. The college provides academic programs and experiences for students, that among other outcomes, produce graduates who: Think analytically and strategically Speak effectively and read critically Write with precision and clarity Exhibit competency in their academic discipline Assume leadership roles in society

George Williamson Crawford Lawyer, city official, and judge in New Haven, Connecticut Dr. Herman H. Long 1935 educator who served as president of Talledega College and president of the United Negro College Fund Jewel Plummer Cobb 1947 biologist, cancer researcher, college dean, California State University, Fullerton president Nikky Finney author who won 2011 National Book Award for Poetry, "Head Off & Split" Dr. Theodore K. Lawless dermatologist, medical researcher, and philanthropist Wynona Lipman first African-American woman elected to the New Jersey Senate William Pickens 1902 orator, educator, journalist, and essayist. He wrote two autobiographies, first The Heir of Slaves, in 1911 and second Bursting Bonds in 1923 Arthur Shores civil rights attorney who was considered Alabama's drum major for justice Hank Sanders civil rights attorney and current Alabama State Senator Margaret Bush Wilson 1939 attorney, civil rights advocate, first African American woman to Chair National NAACP Board of Directors (1975-1983)

Rural 50 Acres (20.2 Ha) Main Campus