In 1900, Ada Gardner Brooks donated a site on what was then the outskirts of Martin to the Tennessee Baptist Convention for the purposes of opening a school.

The school opened as the Hall-Moody Institute, named for two locally prominent Baptist ministers - John Newton Hall [7] and Joseph Burnley Moody.

The institute changed its name to Hall-Moody Normal School in 1917, as teacher training became its primary focus.

In 1927, the Tennessee Baptist Convention made the decision to consolidate Hall-Moody with a similar institution, Union University, in nearby Jackson.

University of Tennessee president Harcourt Morgan agreed to accept the proposition on the condition that the Martin community would acquire the property as well as space for expansion.

The City of Martin and Weakley County sold bonds to purchase the campus and some surrounding land.

On February 10, 1927, Senate Bill Number 301 established the University of Tennessee Junior College in Martin.

Hall-Moody closed for the last time on June 1, and the new UT Junior College began operations on September 2 with 120 students.

In 1951, with the addition of four-year fields of study leading to a bachelor's degree, it was redesignated the University of Tennessee Martin Branch (UTMB).

"[14][15] During the tenure of Dr. Robert Smith, UT Martin successfully met the challenge and was removed from probation.

Students who live on campus are within walking distance of all academic buildings, the library, food services, the Boling University Center, and all recreational and sports facilities.

Recent years have seen the demolition of old double-occupancy dormitory halls in favor of the construction of apartment-style housing.

The UT Martin athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

The name was changed in 1971, largely because, on account of the former junior college status of the school, the teams were often referred to as the "Baby Vols".

The Office of Student Publications publishes The Pacer every Thursday morning throughout the semester except for holidays and exam periods.

In the spring of 2006, the publication won the distinction of being named "Best in the South" at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, beating out such schools as Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.