The University of Southern Mississippi

Founded by Legislative Act on March 30, 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi was the state’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 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. A close relationship between the university, city, and county is still maintained today.