University of Alabama

History

In 1818, Congress authorized the newly-created Alabama Territory to set aside a township for the establishment of a "seminary of learning." When Alabama was admitted to the Union on March 2, 1819, a second township was added to the land grant, bringing it to a total of 46,000 acres (186 km²). The General Assembly of Alabama established the seminary on December 18, 1820, and named it "The University of the State of Alabama." It was set up in Tuscaloosa, then-capital of Alabama, in 1827 and opened its doors to students on April 18, 1831.

Related Topics:
Congress - Alabama Territory - Union - March 2 - 1819 - Land grant - Acre - Km² - December 18 - 1820 - Capital - April 18 - 1831

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School president Landon Garland transformed the University into a military school in 1860. As such, the school trained troops for the Confederacy during the Civil War. As a consequence of that role, Union troops burned down the campus in 1865 (though this was unrelated to Sherman's March to the Sea). Only seven buildings survived the burning, one of which was the President's Mansion.

Related Topics:
Landon Garland - Confederacy - Civil War - Union - Sherman's - March to the Sea

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The University reopened in 1871 and in 1880, Congress granted the University 40,000 acres (162 km²) of coal land in partial compensation for $250,000 in war damages. The military structure was dropped approximately a decade after the school was officially opened to women in 1892 after much lobbying by Julia Tutwiler to the Board of Trustees.

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On June 11, 1963, then-Governor George Wallace made his infamous Stand at the Schoolhouse Door when he stood in the front entrance of Foster Auditorium in an attempt to stop the enrollment of two African-American students: Vivian Malone and James Hood. When confronted by federal marshals sent in by Attorney-General Robert F. Kennedy, Wallace stepped aside. Later in life, he apologized for his opposition at that time to racial integration.

Related Topics:
June 11 - 1963 - Governor - George Wallace - African-American - Federal marshal - Attorney-General - Robert F. Kennedy - Racial integration

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In June 2003, the University marked the fortieth anniversary of integration by hosting "Opening Doors," a three-day event to salute the sacrifice and commitment of the courageous individuals who took a stand for racial change at a crucial time in its history.

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