History | Updated April 3, 2014 |
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| Southern Miss: A Thumbnail Sketch |
| Overview |
| Founded by Legislative Act on March 30, 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi was Mississippi's first state-supported teacher training school. Originally known as Mississippi Normal College, the school was built on 120 acres of cutover timber land donated by Messrs. H.A. Camp, A.A. Montague and Dr. T.E. Ross, and funded by bonds issued by the city of Hattiesburg and Forrest County in the amount of $250,000. The school's stated purpose was to "qualify teachers for the public schools of Mississippi." Mississippi Normal College opened for classes September 18, 1912, and hosted a total of 876 students during its initial session (506 in the regular session and 370 in the summer term). |
| Timeline of Names | Years |
| The University of Southern Mississippi | 1962-present |
| Mississippi Southern College | 1940-62 |
| State Teachers College | 1924-40 |
| Mississippi Normal College | 1912-24 |
