[1] It was established after a state law ended access for African Americans to Maryville College.

The state of Tennessee passed an extension of law in 1901 to their version of the 1870 Jim Crow law, which forced private schools such as Maryville College to expel their African American students.

Swift from Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, after his widow donated USD $1000.

[4] In 1932, the Hawkins County School District and Swift Memorial entered an agreement to use Swift Memorial to teach Black public high school students.

[9] By 1955, the former campus buildings for Swift Memorial College were converted to community use and a school.