In 1877 the black ministers of the Mississippi Baptist Missionary Convention and the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York founded at the state’s first capital, Natchez Seminary, an institution created for the purpose of educating Mississippi’s black young people. Later its name became Jackson State College- the present Jackson State University, which now ranks as one of Mississippi’s eight institutions of higher learning and the largest of any historically black college. Jackson State University: The First Hundred Years, 1877-1977 chronicles the history of this institution.

One hundred years ago the goal of Jackson State University became educating underprivileged people to encourage their advancement toward new horizons and opportunities. The beginning of Natchez Seminary came at a time shortly after blacks were freed by the Thirteenth Amendment. Since few blacks had been given the opportunity of going to school, the task of educating so many illiterates created a great problem. In addition, for twelve years after the passage of this amendment, blacks could not obtain an education beyond the grade school level. Realizing this bleak situation, those black ministers from Natchez undertook the task of providing a place and a means to educate black people. The fulfillment of that goal is traced by this book. 

The University’s centennial theme- “To Survive and Thrive: From a Century of Service We Go Forward” symbolizes the aim toward continuing success. The University is now committed to providing education for everyone regardless of race, sex, and national origin. Jackson State University: The First Hundred Years, 1877-1977 evaluates the institution’s past and forecasts its objectives for the future.