Miles College

Miles College is a private historically black college in Fairfield, Alabama. Founded in 1898, it is associated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME Church) and a member of the United Negro College Fund. History Miles College began organization efforts in 1893 and was founded in 1898 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church). It was chartered as Miles Memorial College, in honor of Bishop William H. Miles. Bishop Miles had been born into slavery in Kentucky and was later freed (although sources disagree on the date). In 1911, the Miles College awarded its first bachelor's degrees. It was originally housed in the former Booker City High School campus in Booker City, Alabama. In 1907, the college moved from Booker City to its present campus in Fairfield, Alabama, roughly six miles west of downtown Birmingham.