Talley-Brady Hall was named for well-known African-American chemists Thomas Talley and Saint Elmo Brady, both graduates of Fisk University. Recognized during his lifetime primarily as a chemist, teacher, and administrator at Fisk University, Thomas W. Talley (1870-1952) was also Tennessee's first African-American folklorist. A native of Bedford County, he began collecting folk songs about 1900, and published many of them in Negro Folk Rhymes in 1922. Later, he compiled the state's first collection of Black folk tales, Negro Traditions.Talley was chairman of the chemistry department from 1902 to 1927. Talley was also a skilled singer and composer. In 1916 Saint Elmo Brady was one of the first African Americans to receive a Ph.D. degree in chemistry. An internationally recognized authority in the field of alkaloids, Brady was chairman of the chemistry department from 1927 to 1952.

Talley- Brady houses the Natural Science department which includes, seven student labs, faculty offices, small research labs, and a lecture hall. In addition to natural science classes, this building hosts some advanced math courses.