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The Danforth Chapel was dedicated by Senator John Stennis (D-MISS) in 1957 following a two-year fund-raising and construction effort. The project began with a $10,000 "seed money" donation from the Danforth family of St. Louis, Missouri, owners of the Purina cereal and pet food company.

The additional $25,000 needed in matching funds was raised during the administration of Dr. William D. McCain, president of the university from 1955 until 1975. These funds came primarily through the donations of faculty, staff, and students. Dr. John F. Nau, professor of religion and philosophy and university chaplain, was primarily responsible for raising these funds needed for building the Chapel.

Danforth Chapel is located in the heart of the University of Southern Mississippi campus and is used frequently for quiet meditation, religious services and student weddings.

"Chapel Place" is a beautiful landscaped site east of and adjacent to Danforth Chapel. It is the resting spot for a 60-foot, 23 ton, 11 million year old petrified tree. The tree was discovered in December, 1986 by Ovett, Mississippi, land owner William Thomas Johnson. Excavation and transportation to its resting place on the campus took place September 4, 1987.

Landscaping includes well-appointed trees and shrubbery as well as benches and sidewalks to be used by viewers of the tree and surrounding area.

The windows in Danforth Chapel were installed in 1987 and dedicated in August of that year. Each window is designed to represent one of the seven virtues: Faith, Hope, Charity, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, and Prudence. In dedicating the windows, University President Emeritus Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas said: "It's a happy moment for me to see these windows in the chapel. We have wanted them for years. The themes of the windows are so appropriate for the campus and the artwork is truly of high quality."

Six of the windows were donated by individuals or families from the Hattiesburg area: the Bobby Collins family; Sandra R. Landry and her mother, Doris H. Rickner; Bob and Judy Mixon; the Rhian family; Doris Lorraine Hitt Rhian; and the Thomson family. The seventh window was funded by anonymous donations and dedicated to the honor of Dr. John Nau, who was most responsible for securing funds for the windows. Additionally, in honor of his work securing the original matching funds to build the Chapel, and more recently his effort to make the stained glass window a reality, the site just east of the chapel, "Chapel Place," was dedicated to Dr. Nau. Nau is currently a distinguished university professor and professor emeritus of religion and philosophy and former university chaplain.

The windows were designed by Gabriel P. Cartwright of New Berlin, Wisconsin, and crafted by Reinarts Stained Glass Studios in Winona, Minnesota. Ditrich-Lipps Art Glass, Inc., of Metairie, Louisiana, installed the windows.

Faith
The resign sun is portrayed in this window with its warm rays reaching across the low rolling hills of southern Mississippi to a meandering river which moves slowly across a coastal marsh. Humming birds in the foreground hover near wild pink honeysuckle and woodbine.

Charity
The heart motif depicted among flames of Zeal is indicative of a passion to help others through good deeds and self sacrifice. Black-eyed Susans, cardinals, and bob-white are included in this depiction of Mississippi's open woodlands.

Hope
The anchor cross symbolizes hope as the anchor of the soul. The pine tree motif which is carried throughout the design depicts regeneration in showing the development of the forest. Pine cone images and patterns appear as does the great blue heron feeding in the marsh below.

Prudence
The image of the two ancient lamps recalls the parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins (only the wise had the cautious wisdom to supply oil for the lamps). Magnolia leaves and branches with blossom, along with a mocking bird, weave a natural theme through the classical symbols of the lamps.

Fortitude
The mature live oak is a wonderful magnificent reminder of determination and perseverance, enduring all manner of travail. The redheaded woodpecker adds a possibly humorous connotation as a contributor to the "knocks" one may both give and receive in the course of time.

Temperance
The chains symbolically surround flames to represent mankind's control over personal passions and desires. A floral motif is provided by the inclusion of dogwood blossoms. The birds represented are flickers.

Justice
The sword and the scale classically represent the concept of justice. These symbols are superimposed in this window over a design symbolizing all of Mississippi via its open lands, forests, and rivers in a montage utilizing nature's delicate balance to accentuate man's natural sense of balance, harmony, and justice.