University of Southern Mississippi

Mississippi Normal College held its first classes on September 20, 1912 with 230 students and 18 faculty. In 1924 it became State Teachers College, and in 1940 it became Mississippi Southern College. In 1962 it became the University of Southern Mississippi.

"In 1910 the Mississippi State Legislature and the State Teachers Association established the Miss. Normal College. Several southern counties were authorized to issue bonds as a bonus for the location of the college. Three counties made offers and Forrest County was awarded the location due to it and the city of Hattiesburg's offer of $260,000 in cash, 840 acres of land and $50,000 in private donations." (source: History of Forrest County, p 95)

On April 1, 2013, Dr. Rodney D. Bennett became the 10th president of USM, and the first African-American president.

List of Original Buildings

 * College Hall -- Academic Building
 * Forrest County Hall -- Men's Dorm
 * Hattiesburg Hall -- Women's Dorm
 * President's Home -- Now the Alumni House or Ogletree House
 * Industrial College -- Not sure if this is still standing or not.

Older But Not Original Buildings

 * Southern Hall (originally known as Science Hall)
 * Mississippi Hall - Built in 1914
 * Bennett Auditorium - Built in 1928

Other Buildings

 * USM Administration Building
 * Commons
 * Old school house
 * McLemore Hall
 * Walker Science
 * USM Library
 * Science Tower
 * Power House
 * Asbury Hall
 * Payne Center

Dorms

 * Bond Hall
 * Century Park
 * Elam Arms
 * Hattiesburg Hall
 * Hickman Hall
 * Hillcrest Hall
 * Jones Hall
 * McCarty Hall
 * Mississippi Hall
 * Pine Haven
 * Pulley Hall
 * Roberts Hall
 * Scott Hall
 * Vann Hall
 * Wilber Hall

Other

 * Sunken Garden
 * Lake Byron