University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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JUNIOR SOPHOMORE FRESHMAN

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HISTORY OF ALMA MATER University of Florida, as she stand today, our beloved Alma Mater whom we love M £ so well, ha been evolved from a hoi-pollni state system of higher education, unrecog-B J nized by the world, supported hut half-hcartedlv by the people of the state, to the position which she now holds in the National System of State Universities. While yet a territory, a movement was set on foot for the establishment of an institution of higher learning. Hut due to the many perplexities which confronted Florida as n territory, from 1824 to 1845, this movement was retarded and only when Florida had been admitted into statehood did it assume the aspect of materialization. It received additional impetus at this time from the Federal Land Grant of 100,000 acres, the proceed of the sale of which were to go toward the establishment of two State Seminaries, one ea t and one west of the Suwannee River. This brought al nut the establishment of the East Florida Seminary at Ocala in 18S2 and the West Florida Seminary at Tallahaswe in 1836. Following the elose of the Civil War lire Hast Florida Seminary was moved to Gainesville. To supply a long-felt need, the State legislature, in 1870, passed “An act to establish tIn-Florida Agricultural College.” The following session, thi- act was amended so as to comply with the “Land Grant College” Act of Congress, that, in so doing, the state might receive a grant of 90,000 acres of land from the Federal Government for the promotion of this cause. After eleven years of wrangling over the site of thi new Agricultural College, the decision was made, take City was chosen as the most desirable location and in the fall of 1884 its construction was begun. This same year marked the advent of the Agricultural Experiment Station as one of the departments of this college. Thus it was known as the Florida Agricultural College until 1903 when its name was changed to the “University of Florida.” By 1905 the higher educational system of the State of Florida was in a sad condition of confusion. The state support was divided between six institutions, each of which was in an rt|iiallv addled condition. The University of Florida, the Fast Florida Seminary, the West Florida Seminary, the Normal School at DeFuniak Springs, the South Florida College at Bartow, and the Agricultural Institution in Osceola County; their standards were low, their work unrecognized, their curriculum confused, the expense of supporting them enormous, and their net accomplishments amounting to little or nothing. Then came the Buckman Act which marks the transition in the history of Florida's educational system and the real In-ginning of the University of Florida. By this act all six of these feeble institutions were merged into two well established, well managed and well financed institutions which are today the “University of Florida and our sister institution at Tallahassee, ‘The Florida State (College for Women, the former with its new and permanent hone in Gainesville. The University opened its fir t session in the fall of 1905 with Dr. Andrew Sledd at live helm, twenty four members on the faculty roster and one hundred and two students enrolled in its classes. The entire University was housed, taught and nurtured in the three buildings which wo know today as Thomas Hall. Buckman Hall, and the Wood-shop. In 1909 Dr. Albert A. Murphrcc succeeded Dr. Sledd to the presidency and the University of Florida began to assume its present day proportions. The subdivision of the various colleges wa made, also the College ©I law was c»!nl li»lied. and Science Hall and the Agricultural Experiment Station were added to the original buildings. During this time the student body had made a fifty per cent increase. From this time on the hand of Dr. Murphrcc has l»cen ever evident and the University of Florida has come from the straggling rear ranks, advancing in an unprecedented manner, to assume her place among leading colleges ami universities of tlu- world. In 1911 and 1912, the Engineering Building, Agricultural Building. George IVabody Hall, Language Hall and the Commons Building were erected. The taw College Building was constructed in 1911 and in 1918 came the Gymnasium. This vear, the term of 1924-25 will sec the completion of the first unit of the Administration Building, the Auditorium. Ere the year is out we shall see the University Library moved from its present location in IVabody Hall to tlic completed section of our new Library Building, which, when completed, will 1m second to none, et Florida's growth lias just begun, and while our student body now numbers in the neighborhood of 1.500. “Florida” will contiuc to grow and to keep abreast, if not to assume the lead, of the Universities of our land. Though young in years, she is old in achievement—she is no longer “The Baby University of the South” and she resents being called such. Each year as she goes on to greater acfiicvcmcnt—as “Florida’s” men go out to take their place among the greatest of men, as her recognition in the scholastic field surpasses every horizon and circles the entire globe, as her victories upon the athletic field continue to heap glory upon her name, so her age is measured by achievement; she has become the “Greater Florida” with opportunity before her which she sets forth with new zeal to realize. 1915 PACE 26

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“ALMA MATER FLORIDA BY Milton L. eats lid loir'ring pine and palm Stand dear old Florida; Neath balmy Southern shies Her glory shines afar. Oh, Alma Mater dear. If e kneel before Thy shrine; Around Thy vine-clad halls Thou hast our hearts entwined. Co forth, ye Florida men! March on to victory. The Orange and Hue shall ever win-11 e cannot conquered be! Our hearts shall never quail; All hail Florida—hail! PACE 28