The college was founded in 1889–90 by aConfederate veteran, MajorReuben Webster Millsaps, who donated the land for the college and $50,000.William Belton Murrah was the college's first president, and BishopCharles Betts Galloway of theMethodist 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.
Millsaps was chosen as one of 131 sites for the training ofNavy andMarine officers in theV-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]
Millsaps College students protested the shooting ofJackson State University student and civil rights workerBenjamin Brown, who was killed by police at a protest. TheMississippi 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]
Millsaps College suspended and later dismissedJames Bowley, a tenured professor of politics and religion, after he emailed three students that class was cancelled to "mourn and process this racist fascist country" afterDonald Trump was elected in the2024 United States elections.[5] Millsaps interim provost Stephanie Rolph placed him on administrative leave, saying that it was because he "[shared] personal opinions with [his] students" using his official email.[6] TheFoundation for Individual Rights and Expression said that the college "fabricated a policy violation" as to fire Bowley in an article demanding his reinstatement that the college called "riddled with inaccuracies".[5] The college's faculty council president, David Wood, toldInside Higher Ed that the suspension was "unfair and unsubstantiated" and the decision to ban Bowley without a hearing was done on "very poor judgment". However, he also described Bowley's past actions as "a bit reckless" and said that Bowley would "push the envelope" of the administration with controversial issues.[7] One of these past issues involving Bowley was the defacement of the Christian Center, an academic building on campus that was set for renovation in 2017. Bowley and several students applied graffiti to the walls, and the graffiti included many politically charged comments about state and federal leaders.[8] This was seen as an act of vandalism by the administration, and "disciplinary processes were initiated against the students and faculty [Bowley] involved."[9]
A grievance panel of three faculty members called for a formal apology by Rolph, Bowley's reinstatement, and compensation to be given to Bowley. The panel writes that Rolph was unable provide a specific policy that Bowley violated and that no policy exists to regulate the use of campus emails to share personal opinions.[7] Bowley said that he appealed his dismissal to the board of trustees.[10]
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 firstgolf course in Mississippi.
1902: Mary Letitia Holloman becomes the first female graduate of Millsaps.
1908: Sing-Ung Zung ofSuzhou, 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 nightfootball game in Mississippi is played on the Millsaps campus between the Majors and Mississippi A&M (nowMississippi 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.[13]
Frances Lucas (2000–2010) – Lucas was the first woman to hold the post at Millsaps.[14] Lucas resigned on April 23, 2009.[15] Lucas cited disagreements with faculty as the reason for her resignation.[16]
Howard McMillan, Dean of Millsaps' Else School of Management took over as Interim President in August 2009.[17]
Robert Pearigen, Vice President of University Relations atThe 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.[18]
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 June 17, 2024.
The school's sports teamsare known as the Majors and their colors are purple and white. They participate in theNCAA Division III and theSouthern Athletic Association. Women's sports include Basketball, Cross-country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball, while Men's sports include Baseball, Basketball, Cross-country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, and Track & Field.
