Customer Reviews

The University of Mississippi: A Sesquicentennial History

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I loved this book. Of course being an Ole Miss graduate and knowing the author helped, but I couldn't put it down. The early history of the university is especially well done. It includes as a bonus an overview of higher education and its struggles in all the State's colleges. Dr. Sansing dispells the wide-spread idea that Governor Bilbo caused the university to lose accreditation by his political hiring and firing; his activity actually was objective and positive for the most part. The section on the Meredith crisis and resulting riots (and resulting and still lingering negative public image) was also well reported and written. I was on campus that Sunday afternoon and night (desperately trying to get off), and the book gives an accurate and fair representation of that event. The last part of the book, though not as interesting as the first, leaves a record of vastly improved racial relations and optimism for the future. The author, an early and consistent advocate for the "universal brotherhood of man" has played a significant role in that progress.

If you want to remember The REAL 'University of Mississippi', why it was founded, and what it stood for, this is a great book!

I have to give this book a 1-star rating because of a lack of complete references or citations. Many times, the author references his own works. That's a red flag for me.

For example, one specific statement looks to be placed only to present an aimed view. In the section concerning the creation of the Ole Miss moniker, the author accurately states it was the result of a contest won by Ms. Elma Meek. Immediately following the statement, the author inserts a statement that the term is also a name used by slaves to refer to the lady of the plantation. Although not said to be the reason it was chosen, there is no further comment on this statement or any citation. That begs the question, what's the point of placing it here?

Sansing states, "In 1897 the Greek societies established a college yearbook, which they titled Ole Miss, a name suggested by Elma Meek, a student from Oxford. The term "Ole Miss" was a title domestic slaves in the Old South used to distinguish the mistress of the plantation house from the young misses of the family" (1999, p. 168). There is no record that Elma Meek, who never owned slaves or lived on a plantation, chose this name because of this connotation.

While the author does not say that is the case, he definitely is trying to cause the reader to assume or consider this. He fails to point out any other views on the subject, like how common the usage of the term "ole" was, or that the official government postal abbreviation for Mississippi was "Miss." from the early 1800s to the mid 1900s. Many other, more complete sources say the slaves used term "ole missus", not merely "ole miss."

No matter how distinguished a writer or historian is, they are not above providing proper citations for their research. The lack there of inspires concern and question. Personally I believe Sansing, an outspoken critic of Ole Miss' traditions, is attempting to create history where there is none. Buyers should consider this prior to their purchase.