University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

Page 11 text:

mmmtmt

Page 10 text:

A monument to the past, a sentinel of the future . . . this is Wesleyan Hall. Historic Wesleyan dates back to 1855 when the college was first moved to the present location. This medieval-styled structure has stood many long years of use and service and has seen the rise and fall of men and nations that will be recorded forever in our history books. The year, 1957, marked another event very important in the history of our school. In this year, Florence State Teachers College ceased to be and the college began a new era of progress and prosperity with the adoption of the name, Florence State College. This change, seem- ingly of little significance, verified the growth and development of our school from a single-purpose teacher training institution to a publicly acknowledged multi-purpose college. Old Wesleyan Hall has seen other names come and go since the college was moved in 1855 from LaGrange to its present site. In this year of transition it became Florence Wesleyan University and soon there came the pall of war over the land. It was forced to close its doors and was not reopened until 1872 when the Methodist Church deeded the University to the state and it was reopened under the name of State Normal School. Even today some of its graduates still refer to the school as the ' Normal School. ' In 1929, a fourth change took place and the new name was State Teachers College, and thus, it remained until the summer of 1957 when the state Legislature passed a bill, started by student campaign and petition, changing the name of our school to I lorcntc State College

Page 12 text:

THIS IS FLORENCE STATE - Florence State is located in an area highly favorable for its growth and development. The city of Florence, Alabama, is a progressive and flourishing municipality of over 30,000 population. It is a part of the Tri-Cities area, combining it with Sheffield and Tuscumbia with all three having a total population of over 65,000. This size and location affords FSC students metropolitan advantages in a friendly and progressive community.