Historical Image Collection (Archival Collections @ Houston Cole Library)

The images found in the Historical Image Collection originate primarily from the Library's Special Collections and the University's Photographic Services unit. While the primary focus is University history, the collection also contains images related to local history and personalities. Digitization of Photographic Services negatives and other images is ongoing, so check back often for new additions to these historical collections.

SEARCH TIPS: The Historical Image Collection contains tens of thousands of images. You can search the entire collection using the search box at left, or you can use the links below to browse the collection by...

• Decade
• Bands, Choirs & Music
• Buildings
• Clubs & Organizations
• Portraits
• Sports

John Henry Caldwell Papers (Special Collections)

John Henry Caldwell (1826-1902) was a prominent member of Jacksonville, Alabama society -- a teacher, attorney, newspaper editor, lieutenant colonel during the Civil War, trustee for the University of Alabama, member of the Alabama House of Representatives, and United States Congressman.

The bulk of the materials in this collection are made up of personal correspondence dating from 1848-1912, written by and concerning Caldwell, his wife, Mary Darthula Greer Caldwell, their children and immediate family and friends. Later generations of the family added in correspondence and genealogical research-related items in the 1930s-1960s, and an incomplete genealogical study was compiled in 1991.

Transcripts for the items are included to enhance accessibility. The original items are housed in the Library's Alabama Gallery Special Collections. More information is available in the Caldwell Papers Finding Aid.

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Letters & Documents        |        Newspapers & Scrapbooks        |        Speeches, Essays & Poetry

JSU Student Symposium 2025 (Conferences & Symposia)

Established in 1995, the JSU Student Symposium provides a forum to publicly display and acknowledge the best work of JSU's students. Approximately 70 papers, posters, and projects were presented at the 2025 symposium, held on the 11th Floor of the Houston Cole Library, 18-20 February 2025; these works are archived here.

View the full Symposium Proceedings

The following awards were presented:

JSU Yearbooks (University History)

See the history of Jacksonville State University through the eyes of its students with the JSU Yearbook Collection. From 1926 to the present, the JSU Yearbooks (the Teacola and later the Mimosa) chart the course of JSU's students as the institution evolved from State Normal School to State Teachers College to Jacksonville State College, and finally Jacksonville State University.

Purple & White (University History)

The Purple and White is a monthly JSU student publication from the Edwardian period. The Library holds issues (with some gaps) from 1904-1914. The publication is varied, including newsletter information, literary works (poetry, short stories, reviews), advertisements, as well as the types of information that would later be found in yearbooks, such as student lists, faculty information, and athletics coverage.