The Alabama Historical Commission received funds to complete the Alabama Historically Black Colleges and Universities Survey and Nomination Project.

This project will provide a comprehensive survey of existing four-year HBCUs in Alabama.

On Jan. 5, 2017, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced $500,000 in grants to help fund projects across the country to increase the number of listings associated with communities that are underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places.

The AHC project has two goals, to survey and update existing National Register historic district nominations for five HBCUs in Alabama and to survey and nominate to the National Register of Historic Places the four remaining HBCU campus historic districts in Alabama.

The campuses to benefit from this grant are Alabama State University in Montgomery, A&M University and Oakwood College in Huntsville, Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Talladega College in Talladega, Selma University and Concordia College Alabama in Selma, Stillman College in Tuscaloosa and Miles College in Birmingham.

Although Concordia College had not heard the news prior to comment, they said they are humbled and honored to be recognized.

“We are very honored that the Alabama Historical Commission has included Concordia in this project,” said Abby Campbell, director of public relations at Concordia.

“As an HBCU that has been in operation for 95 years, we are very proud to receive recognition as a historical institution. We very much appreciate the efforts being put forth by the AHC to preserve historic HBCU campuses and bring awareness to the important roles they played in history.”

Currently, the five colleges listed in the National Register of Historic Places as historic districts are Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, Miles College, Talladega Tuskegee University College and Tuskegee University.

Several buildings on the campus of Selma University are also listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

The Alabama Historical Commission HBCUs Survey and National Register project was the only one to be funded in Alabama and was one of only 12 projects funded in nine states through this grant.

Many of the state’s HBCUs as well as their supporters submitted a letter of support for the grant application.

The Alabama Historical Commission’s proposed survey and nomination project will benefit these historical institutions in preserving their campuses while also educating others about their significant role in the history of Alabama, and the nation.