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Florida State Heritage & University Archives

Find resources to learn about the history of Florida State University and its predecessor institutions.

Overview of Florida State University History

Throughout the course of its history Florida State University has functioned as various educational institutions. The school was chartered in 1851 by an act of the General Assembly of Florida that called for the establishment of two seminaries of higher learning, one to the east and one to the west of the Suwannee River.

The first iteration of the school physically opened in 1855 and was alternately called "The City Seminary" and "Tallahassee Male Seminary." In 1856, it was renamed the Florida Institute. In 1857, the school was designated as the official seminary west of the Suwannee River and renamed the West Florida Seminary.

In 1901, the school was renamed "Florida State College" in order to reflect changes that had been made to the curriculum.  By this time, the school had expanded, boasting clubs and organizations, participation in intercollegiate athletics, and dormitories.

In 1905, the Florida legislature passed the Buckman Act in an attempt to reduce duplication in Florida's institutions of higher education. As a result, Florida State College was renamed "Florida Female College" and was transformed into a college exclusively for white women. In 1909, the name of the institution was changed to the more grammatically correct "Florida State College for Women."

With the end of World War II and the Congressional passage of the GI Bill, there was an enormous influx of male students looking to earn a college degree. In 1947, Florida's governor signed a bill transforming both Florida State College for Women and the University of Florida, which had been exclusively for white male students, back into coeducational institutions. The Florida State College for Women was then renamed Florida State University.

For more information about Florida State please visit the university's About FSU page.

Facts

University Names & Seals

Seminary West of the Suwanee River

1857-1901

 

  Florida State College

  1901-1905


  Florida State College for Women

  1905-1947

 

  Florida State University

  1947- present

 

Current & Past Presidents

Statistics

Special Collections & Archives

Online

Main SCA Website
https://www.lib.fsu.edu/special-collections

Email SCA Staff
lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu

Visit SCA
https://www.lib.fsu.edu/special-collections/visit

FSU Library Catalog
fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01FALSC_FSU:Home
Filter results for SCA by selecting "Library > FSU Special Collections and Archives"

FSU Finding Aid Database
archives.lib.fsu.edu

FSU Digital Library
diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu:digital_library

Special Collections & Archives Reading Rooms Hours

Spring 2024

SCA Research Center
110 Strozier Library, Main Floor
(850) 644-3271

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Claude Pepper Library Reading Room
Claude Pepper Center, 636 W Call St
(850) 644-9217 

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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