The college was founded in 1889–90 by a Confederate veteran, Major Reuben Webster Millsaps, who donated the land for the college and $50,000. William Belton Murrah was the college's first president, and Bishop Charles Betts Galloway of the Methodist Episcopal Church South organized the college's early fund-raising efforts. Both men were honored with halls named in their honor. Major Millsaps and his wife are interred in a tomb near the center of campus. The current United Methodist Church continues to affiliate with the college.
Navy V-12 program
Millsaps was chosen as one of 131 sites for the training of Navy and Marine officers in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. In April 1943, 380 students arrived for the Navy V-12 program offering engineering, pre-medical and pre-dental training. Thereafter Millsaps began accepting students year-round for the program. A total of 873 officer candidates went through Millsaps between 1943 and 1945.[4]
Civil rights era
Millsaps College students protested the shooting of Jackson State University student and civil rights worker Benjamin Brown, who was killed by police at a protest. The Mississippi Sovereignty Commission photographed the Millsaps protesters and identified them. The Sovereignty Commission spied on and conspired against civil rights activists and organized pressure and economic oppression of those who supported the civil rights movement in Mississippi.[citation needed]
Important dates in Millsaps history
Mausoleum on the campus of Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, containing the graves of Major Reuben Webster Millsaps and his wife.
1890: Major Reuben Webster Millsaps founds the college with a personal gift of $50,000.
1901: Millsaps builds the first golf course in Mississippi.
1902: Mary Letitia Holloman becomes the first female graduate of Millsaps.
1908: Sing-Ung Zung of Suzhou, China, becomes the first international student to graduate from Millsaps.
1914: Old Main, one of the first buildings on campus, burns and is replaced by Murrah Hall.
1916: Major Millsaps dies and is interred on campus.
1931: The first night football game in Mississippi is played on the Millsaps campus between the Majors and Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State University).
George Marion Harmon (1978–2000) – After 22 years of leading Millsaps College, Harmon announced his resignation in the spring of 1999. His last day as president of Millsaps College was June 30, 2000.[6]
Frances Lucas (2000–2010) – Lucas was the first woman to hold the post at Millsaps.[7] Lucas resigned on April 23, 2009.[8] Lucas cited disagreements with faculty as the reason for her resignation.[9]
Howard McMillan, Dean of Millsaps' Else School of Management took over as Interim President in August 2009.[10]
Robert Pearigen, Vice President of University Relations at The University of the South, was selected to serve as the eleventh president of the college. He began his term in office on July 1, 2010.[11]
Frank Neville, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff at Georgia Institute of Technology, was selected to serve as the twelfth president of the college. He began his term in office on January 17, 2024.
Rankings and distinctions
Millsaps College professors were ranked among the best in the nation, according to The Princeton Review's The Best 377 Colleges – 2013 Edition. The Millsaps faculty won praise in The Princeton Review's special Top 20 category: Professors Get High Marks, where Millsaps was ranked twelfth in the country.[12]
