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Dr. David Sansing — beloved historian, writer and teacher at the University of Mississippi — spent his career shining an honest spotlight on the complicated history of his home state through powerful writing and storytelling. His work as both an author and educator touched thousands of students and other readers over several decades. He passed away on July 6, 2019, at the age of 86.
Now, to honor his life and his service to the state and university he loved, his colleagues, former students and friends have launched the David G. Sansing Excellence in History Scholarship Endowment to continue his impact on future generations of history students at Ole Miss.
Sansing taught from 1970 to 1994, and shortly after his retirement wrote "The University of Mississippi: A Sesquicentennial History," the definitive history of the university. In 1990, he was named UM’s Teacher of the Year. His favorite courses, and the most popular with his students, were Mississippi History, The Old South, and The New South.
Dr. David Sansing (left) with author Willie Morris at an Ole Miss football game in the early 1990s.
Sansing published a number of scholarly papers and authored more than a dozen books and textbooks on various aspects of Mississippi history. His last book, "The Other Mississippi: A State in Conflict with Itself," was published in 2018 as a compilation of articles, essays, speeches and lectures given throughout his career. His 2013 textbook, "A Place Called Mississippi," remains in use in public and private high schools throughout the state. Sansing also reached wide audiences through his work with the Mississippi Historical Society and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Through writing, classroom instruction and lectures, Sansing spent his professional career shedding light on Mississippi’s past with the goal of improving the present and future lives of her people. It is only natural to honor him in a way that will support Mississippians pursuing a history degree at the University of Mississippi.
David Sansing, shown here signing his book “Mississippi Governors: Soldiers Statesmen Scholars Scoundrels” in 2016.
You are invited to be part of this special effort to create a scholarship endowment to honor the life and career of this beloved professor and historian. The David G. Sansing Excellence in History Scholarship Endowment will support many future UM graduates who have a passion for Mississippi and Southern history. Please give now!
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Brett Barefoot in the Office of University Development at bmbarefo@olemiss.edu or 662.915.2711.
Sansing taught at Ole Miss from 1970 to 1994. His favorite courses, and the most popular with his students, were Mississippi History, The Old South, and The New South. He was named UM’s Teacher of the Year in 1990.
Born in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on June 15, 1933, Sansing grew up in a home off Highway 82 in Greenville. He credited his 11th-grade history teacher, Nell Thomas, with instilling in him a love of history.
"The University of Mississippi: A Sesquicentennial History," written by Sansing, commemorated the state's 150th anniversary in 1998. Sansing published a number of scholarly papers and authored more than a dozen books and textbooks on various aspects of Mississippi history.
In 2018, Sansing published "The Other Mississippi: A State in Conflict with Itself." This 342-page read was the final book of his long career. It’s a compilation of articles, essays, speeches and lectures by the beloved and respected history professor.
Sansing was an avid fan of Ole Miss football and member of the self-proclaimed “South End Zone Rowdies.” The late author Willie Morris, also a member of this fan group, once called Sansing the “Emperor of the South End Zone.”
Sansing’s work as both an author and educator touched thousands of students and other individuals over several decades. He reached even wider audiences through his work with the Mississippi Historical Society and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Admitted as a state on Dec. 10, 1817, Mississippi has a long, complex history. Sansing spent his professional career shedding light on his home state’s past with the goal of improving the present lives of her people.
To date, 5,019 students have earned history degrees from the University of Mississippi. The David G. Sansing Excellence in History Scholarship Endowment will support many future graduates who have a passion for Mississippi and Southern history.