The history of UMass Dartmouth dates back to 1895 when the Bradford Durfee Textile School in Fall River and the New Bedford Textile School in New Bedford, were both chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For more information on the history and evolution of the schools that eventually combined to form the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, see the archives website.
Chronology of University Names since 1895
Based on the Acts and Resolves passed by the General Court of Massachusetts
1895-1947 New Bedford Textile School (incorporated in 1895; opened for classes in 1899)
1947-1953 New Bedford Textile Institute (Acts, 1946, Chap. 257, May 1, 1946)
1953-1957 New Bedford Institute of Textiles and Technology (Acts, 1953, Chap. 488, June 15, 1953)
1957-1964 New Bedford Institute of Technology (Acts, 1957, Chap. 347, May 6, 1957)
1899-1900 Fall River Textile School
1900-1946 Bradford Durfee Textile School (incorporated in 1895; opened for classes in 1904)
1946-1957 Bradford Durfee Technical Institute (Acts, 1946, Chap. 257, May 1, 1946)
1957-1964 Bradford Durfee College of Technology (Acts, 1957, Chap. 347, May 6, 1957)
1964 New Bedford Institute of Technology and Bradford Durfee College of Technology consolidated into Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute (Acts, 1964, Chap. 495, June 10, 1964)
1969-1991 Southeastern Massachusetts University (Acts, 1969, Chap. 396, June 8, 1969.
1991+ University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Acts, 1991, Chap. 142, Sec. 16 & 41, July 11, 1991)
1881-1902 The Swain Free School
1903-1920 The Swain Free School of Design
1921-1988 Swain School of Design
1988 Swain became part of SMU
1981-1986 Southeastern Massachusetts-Rhode Island-Avins Law School
1986-2010 Southern New England School of Law
2010- University of Massachusetts School of Law -- Dartmouth