The history of the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) from 1884 to 1984 is described. MUW, the first state-supported college for women is now coeducational, but adheres to its original mission of providing educational opportunity for women. Educational, administrative, and architectural developments are traced, with attention to leaders who guided MUW to maturity. The university's presidents include Henry Lewis Whitfield (1907-1920), whose sweeping changes at the college strengthened the academic program and upgraded its industrial (vocational) studies. During the tenure of Charles P. Hogarth for a quarter of a century, the college experienced the most growth in its history, quadrupling its enrollment. Hogarth's successor, thirteenth MUW president James W. Strobel, is leading the university past the Supreme Court decision toward new goals of academic excellence and strengthened emphasis on women's education. A personal story of what the university means to its graduates is also provided. Excerpts from campus publications are interspersed with portions of letters from alumnae describing the university's traditions and several memorable teachers. (SW)