Talladega College Talladega College , located in Talladega , Alabama , is a private , liberal arts college . It holds the distinction as Alabama ' s oldest private historically black college . As of 2009 the school received full SACS accreditation . 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 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 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 . Campus . Talladega College is located on the outskirts of the city of Talladega . The campus consists of with 17 primary buildings , three of which are National Historic Landmarks . The Savery Library , completed in 1939 , was built to replace a 1907 structure built with a donation from Andrew Carnegie . The Library houses hundreds of thousands of serials , a record Room , a fully equipped computer laboratory , a unique Archives Room , and the historic Amistad murals painted by Hale Woodruff . Embedded in the floor of the library is a mural of " La Amistad , " which school tradition says must never be stepped upon . The mutiny by slaves , who took control of the ship and later won their freedom in a United States court , is depicted upon the surrounding walls . The mezzanine floor of the library houses the Galangue Room . This room contains an extensive collection of Angola n and Nigerian artifacts . Andrews Hall , built in 1910 , houses the Music Department and the Education Department . It is named for George Whitfield Andrews , D . D . , Dean of Theological Department from 1875 to 1908 . Arthur D . Shores Hall , constructed in 1974 , is named for the late Attorney Arthur D . Shores , Class of 1927 , who served for many years as a member and chairman of the College Board of Trustees . De Forest Chapel , built in 1903 in commemoration of the life and service of the Rev . Henry Swift De Forest , D . D . , President of the College from 1879 to 1896 . DeForest Chapel was renovated in 1996 and rededicated November 1996 . De Forest was the father of inventor Lee De Forest . Fanning Refectory , built in 1928 from a legacy of Dr . David H . Fanning of Worcester , Massachusetts . The building contains the student and faculty dining rooms . Juliette Derricotte House , built in 1940 - 41 , was the gift of the Harkness Foundation and named for Juliette Derricotte , Class of 1918 , who at the time of her death in 1932 was a member of the Board of Trustees . Formerly a staff residence and guest house , it was converted into a women ' s honors dormitory in 1988 . Silsby Science Hall , constructed in 1926 , was named for Dr . E . C . Silsby , who was a member of the College faculty for 37 years . The building was a gift of the General Education Board and friends and alumni of the College . It contains the laboratories and classrooms for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics . Athletics . Talladega College teams , nicknamed athletically as the Tornadoes , are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) Division II level , primarily competing in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference ( GCAC ) . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , golf and soccer ; while women ' s sports include basketball , softball and volleyball .