Talladega's History

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 freedmen in Mobile, Alabama. From this meeting came the commitment: "...We regard the education of our children and youths 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." https://www.talladega.edu/our-history/

Talladega's Culture

Talladega College provides a safe and nurturing space for a diverse range of students, while also offering a sense of home. The traditions at TC bridge the gap between the past and the future, celebrating and uplifting Black culture and history through band, Greek life, athletics, pageantry, and many other meaningful activities.

What to know about Talladega

Talladega College, Alabama's first private historically black liberal arts college, has been known for academic excellence for over 150 years. It is listed among the Princeton Review's Best Colleges in the Southeast; US News & World Report's best national liberal arts colleges, best HBCUs and Top Performers on Social Mobility; and Kiplinger's Best Value colleges and universities. Kiplinger named Talladega the second-best college in the nation for "low average graduating debt" in 2019. The campus is noted for its breathtaking historic buildings as well as its state-of-the-art facilities. A new, 45.000-square-foot residence hall opened in January 2019. The College opened two additional buildings in 2020 - the Dr. Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center and the Dr. William R. Harvey Museum of Art, which houses Hale Woodruff's critically acclaimed Amistad Murals and other great works of art. The College has an aggressive tradition of bringing the world to Talladega via workshops, forums and lectures presented by acclaimed artists, scientists, and political, business, and civic leaders.

Talladega Photo Gallery