History photo gallery

Preserving our past

The University of Southern Mississippi is celebrating its Centennial in 2010, marking its founding as Mississippi Normal College. 

Over the years, it was renamed three times - State Teachers College, 1924; Mississippi Southern College, 1940; and The University of Southern Mississippi, 1962 - but the traditions, pride and excellence of the institution have remained steadfast.

And a rich history has been established as Southern Miss moves forward for the next century.

  • Centennial site: See more photos and  learn more about Southern Miss history and traditions.
  • The Drawl: Our history and traditions manual.
The original Dining Hall was one of the first structures on campus.
Early dining
An all-male class at Mississippi Normal College takes a drafting course.
The old drawing board
The Roberts Schoolhouse (1899) is preserved on campus at the education college.
One-room school
The Administration Building and its iconic dome were completed in 1930.
Iconic dome
An outdoor pool near the football stadium was replaced in 1971 by a natatorium.
Old-school pool
The Pride of Mississippi band at a football game in the late 1960s
'60s Pride
The Dixie Darlings drill team started performing with the band in the '50s.
Homecoming Darlings
The Dixie Darlings and Pride perform a spell-out routine at football halftime.
Casting a spell
The 1913 baseball team was the school's first.
Baseball forefathers
The 1917 basketball team, the school's first, played on a dirt court.
Starting five

Other Photo Galleries

The historic Biloxi Lighthouse dates to 1848.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Photo Gallery
music students sing the Southern Miss alma mater
Traditions photo gallery
Mississippi Armed Forces Museum exhibits include a tank
City of Hattiesburg Photo Gallery
The 500-year-old Friendship Oak is a gathering place for students at Gulf Park.
Southern Miss Gulf Coast Photo Gallery
students walking through the Hattiesburg campus
Hattiesburg Campus Photo Gallery
More than 1,200 students, staff, faculty, friends and fans formed a human “100.
Founders' Day 2010