Jonathan Bass, professor of history at Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences, recently spoke at the University of Cambridge regarding his book From Every Stormy Wind That Blows: The Idea of Howard College and the Origins of Samford University.
Bass shared his thoughts on the significance of speaking at such one of the U.K.’s most prestigious institutions.
“Cambridge has long been a beacon of intellectual inquiry and dialogue, and I was grateful for the opportunity to share my work in such a distinguished setting,” said Bass. “Engaging with the vibrant minds at the university allowed me to explore essential themes in the history of Samford: faith, intellect, virtue and benevolence.”
Bass’s lecture focused on Howard College’s 1887 relocation to Birmingham within the broader context of the New South movement of the 1880s, a period marked by efforts to industrialize the southern United States.
His analysis highlighted the role of Alabama Baptist ministers, including Howard College President Benjamin Franklin Riley, in promoting southern economic development, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Baptist higher education. These ministers played a key role in securing the financial stability of Howard College during a challenging and transformative period for the state.
Bass was invited to speak at Cambridge by his former graduate school professor David Bebbington, a leading historian of Evangelicalism. Bebbington praised Bass’s scholarship and its contribution to the field.
“Jonathan Bass has written an immensely thorough account based on extensive use of manuscripts and newspapers, showing how the college survived war, Reconstruction and copious criticism to become a valued institution of the New South,” Bebbington said.
From Every Stormy Wind That Blows, published by LSU Press, is available for purchase here. Use code LSUSAVE40 at checkout for a 40% discount. The book is also available on campus at the Samford bookstore for a discounted price.
