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Ole Miss: Older Than You Think?

Persons familiar with the history of Ole Miss know that the University opened in 1848 and are probably aware that some legislation had to take place before a university could open its doors. Historians, however, like to discuss earlier dates and events. For example, Alfred Hume, Allen Cabaniss, Frank Moak, Grover C. Hooker, Robert Lowry, William H. McCardle, and Aubrey Lucas consider 1787 as a beginning date.

July 13, 1787: On July 13, 1787 An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, Northwest of the Ohio River, often just called the Northwest Ordinance, was passed as an act of the United States Congress. One writer calls it “arguably the single most important piece of legislation passed by members of the earlier Continental Congresses other than the Declaration of Independence.”

The act allowed the federal government to expand and establish new states, including, of course, Mississippi. It has been called “the most important legislation that Congress has passed with regard to American public domain lands.” The writer continues: “The creation of the first public domain of the United States, the Northwest Territory, began an epoch in American political history. It was decided early that new states would be created from it, to be added to the union in full equality to the original 13 states.”

Here are Dr. Hume’s words:

1802: Edward Mayes writes that “In the year 1802, the controversy between the United States and the State of Georgia over the ownership of the Mississippi country was settled….” Richard McLemore and David Sansing stress the importance of Governor (of Mississippi Territory) William Charles Cole Claiborne’s hope for the establishment of a state institution of higher learning or “seminary or learning.” Claiborne, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, recommended state support of a college or university and would have preferred that state funds support Jefferson College, established in 1803.

1815; 1819: Edward Mayes puts the beginning a little later: “The University of Mississippi was, in effect, founded by the Congress of the United States, by the acts of March 3, 1815, and February 20, 1819.” Nathaniel C. Hathorn and H. M. Sullivan emphasize the 1819 date.

The 1815 act provided townships of land for the support of seminaries in the Mississippi Territory. The act of 1819 granted to the state of Mississippi, now a state, two sections of land for that purpose.

Not much activity took place in the early years of statehood. Jefferson College, established in 1803, was not supported by the state and therefore became a private school. In 1835, Governor Runnells reported that sections of land for a seminary had been sold. He recommended the appointment of commissioners to select a place.

In 1837, Governor Lynch said “immediate attention” should be given to the establishment of a university. Governor McNut in 1838 supported an institution that would be accessible to all. In 1840 he made it clear that time had come for the passing of a law to establish a university. That year, Mr. Ventress reported on a bill that would name commissioners to select a location for a university.

In 1840, members of the state House and Senate recommended places to be considered for the location of the new state university. (A future blog will report on the places nominated.) In 1841, the legislators narrowed the list to seven places and finally settled on Oxford. Finally, a charter was approved in 1844.

Thirteen people were appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1845. The members selected William Nicols as the architect to plan the buildings and grounds in Oxford and named a president and three additional faculty members. Classes began in 1848.

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