AUGUST 2000
FSU'S SESQUICENTENNIAL
By Dave Fiore
Special to the Florida State Times
Florida State University will spend the year of 2001 celebrating its 150th anniversary.
The sesquicentennial celebrates the school's creation date of 1851, when the Legislature authorized the Seminary West of the Suwanee. Some university officials have marked the anni-versary from 1857, the year the doors opened, but next year's sesquicentennial will count from the charter, as most schools do.
It all started in 1823, even before the charter, while Florida
was still a territory, when the legislative council planned to
build two seminaries.
On January 24, 1851, the state Legislature authorized the all-male
Seminary West of the Suwannee, and its first classes were held
in 1857. In 1858, women were admitted in a separate department
called the Female Institute.
During the Civil War, the Legislature changed the name to
the Florida Military and Colleg-iate Institute.
In 1901, it became the Florida State College.
Just four years later, at the same time an all-male school was
established in Gainesville, the FSC became the Florida Female
College. That name was objectionable to many and was changed
to the Florida State College for Women, a name it held until
1947, when it became Florida State University.
A large part of the celebration will focus on campus life over the last 150 years. Historical displays will be created using authentic memorabilia donated by former students, faculty and staff.
To donate FSU memorabilia to the Student Life Archives, call the Sesquicentennial Office at 850-644-0150 or e-mail to fsu150 @mailer.fsu.edu.
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