The Daily Democrat celebrated a milestone for FAMC nursing students, who no longer had to leave Florida to complete their training. The new agreement allowed 12 seniors to finalize their education in Duval County, Jacksonville, overcoming FAMC hospital's accreditation gap and advancing opportunities for future nurses.
In 1946, FAMC launched a hospital campaign under Dr. L.H.B. Foote’s leadership, raising $2,000 and securing $250,000 from Tallahassee and the state legislature. The project aimed to build a 100-bed hospital with modern clinics, isolation wards, and outpatient services. It was supported by three fundraising committees to strengthen Black healthcare.
The Jacksonville Journal announced FAMC's Fall 1945 semester opening, spotlighting the School of Business and the arrival of new professors. Mr. M.S. Thomas, returning professor with a master’s degree, was appointed dean. She oversaw academic growth and leadership in the Mechanic Arts department, enhancing the university's commitment to excellence.
FAMC expanded to accommodate an influx of Florida Negro veterans enrolling, particularly in the Division of Mechanic Arts and technical fields. With $500,000 allocated for a new physical education building and recreation gymnasium, Dr. Gray also introduced out-of-state scholarships and the first GI Bill at FAMC to support veterans' education.
This document outlines the official formal opening of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College’s School of Business for the first year in 1945-1946. The press release also discusses a new addition to FAMC faculty and an “in memorium” segment.
In the Tampa Bulletin, FAMC’s 1945 summer session was praised for its success, with 115 students graduating. President Gray was joined by Mr. H. L. Dickson and Dr. J. Alvin Russell in the celebration. Dickson gave the commencement address and Russell delivered the baccalaureate sermon, acknowledging the graduates’ accomplishments.
This photograph, taken by Nipper (as inscribed on the back), shows what appears to be a Florida A&M men’s sports team standing on the staircase by the Pete Griffin Track field. The two men in the center of the photo appear to be holding a baton, but it is unclear to say with certainty when this was taken or which sports team this was due to fading.
Florynce “Flo” Kennedy was a radical feminist lawyer who represented H. Rap Brown and the Black Panthers and established the Feminist Party, which nominated Congresswoman Shirley Chrisholm for president in 1972. Kennedy visited Florida A&M University in the fall of 1978 and spoke to its students.
Dr. Regina Mary Goff, the first woman Ph.D. faculty member at Florida A&M College, was featured in a 1946 newspaper clipping. Her academic focus on philosophy and early education, coupled with two fellowships, highlighted her pivotal role in shaping the future of education at the college.
With photographs captured by Mike Moody for the Capitol Canon, this newspaper highlights the student activism prevalent not just in the 1970s but on Florida’s campuses. At Lee Hall, the Malcolm X United Liberation Front, a non-campus affiliated student organization, called for Black unity between students and the greater Tallahassee community.
William Cotterell wrote this news article for an unidentifiable news publication. It discusses a new joint opportunity between Florida A&M University and Florida State University but quoted executive officials from FSU warning FAMU students from joining because they risk falling behind in class due to differing institution registration periods.
This collection contains a 1972 report from Florida A&M’s Office of Contracts and Grants discussing the increasing cost of higher education due to politicians appropriating funds for university operations. The document presents figures on collateral programs for funding support, aid as a portion of income, and more.
This black and white photograph shows a Black female U.S. Naval Officer swearing in another Black female. The officer holds a book titled “U.S. Navy Enlisted Service Record.”
Orrin Evans of The Bulletin staff wrote this piece on three generations of pastors in the local community, one of them being former Florida A&M University President Rev. William H. Gray, Jr. William H. Gray, Jr. was the pastor of one of the largest Baptist congregations in Philadelphia and his son, William H. Gray, III was a minister.
In 1960, following a civil riot, FAMU released a statement addressing student demonstrations. The university faced criticism for suspending two students and placing 30 on strict probation, asserting that the disciplinary actions were essential to restoring order and upholding its standards.
This article provides a more nuanced position Benjamin L. Perry held on merging with Florida State University. While he was adamant about maintaining Florida A&M’s autonomy, Perry made sure to say that the institution “offers opportunities for blacks and whites” as justification for that stance.
In the late 1960s to mid-1970s, threats of Florida A&M being phased out like other small, predominantly Black institutions or merged with Florida State University (a predominantly white institution) were recurrent. However, university President Benjamin L. Perry held his ground, threatening legal action against the Florida State University System.
Journalist Brad Silliman, writing for the Tallahassee Democrat, discusses a plan created by students at Florida A&M University to tour the state of Florida on a telegram and letter campaign to the Florida Congress. This protest was in response to a suggestion by two state senators to merge the two institutions to save costs.
In mid-November 1963, a letter was sent detailing updates to the student handbook, outlining behavioral expectations and consequences. It was followed by another letter informing students that those involved in a county court conviction would face strict probation for the remainder of the trimester, with severe academic and disciplinary penalties.
In the early 1970s, President Dr. Benjamin Perry announced a private funding campaign for the university after asserting that the State Board of Education was withholding FAMU’s fair share of funds, granting them only 3.1% of the budget from the Board of Regents and the State Legislature. Then-Attorney General Bob Shervin supported his statements.
When 20-year-old Genita Ekpenyong’s father was murdered in Nigeria’s Biafran conflict, B. L. Perry (who met her father when he was a guest professor in Nigeria) temporarily became her guardian so she could complete her education. Despite this, Ekpenyong was itching to return to Nigeria because the violence in the U.S. was too much for her to bear.
A beverage product made from muscadine berries grown at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Muscadine berries are a type of grape native to the southeastern United States.
A product made from muscadine grapes grown at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's very own vineyard. Muscadine grapes are a unique variety native to the southeastern United States, known for their thick skins and sweet, musky flavor.
A timeless piece from the Tallahassee Democrat on a woman who essentially grew up with Florida A&M University. Born a year after the institution’s founding, 1888, Charlotte V. A. Gavin offers historical insight into both the early days of FAMU and the growth of Tallahassee’s community through integration.
The FAMU Alumni News reported on the Summer 1971 Commencement, which some high-profile figures attended. Names include Senior Ebony Editor Lerone Bennett (commencement speaker, not pictured), Florida House Rep. Gwendolyn Cherry, Secretary of the Florida State Department of Community Affairs M. Athalie Range, and Ray Charles (absent from the event).
A 1969 newspaper clipping from the St. Petersburg Times describes an interaction between Florida A&M President Dr. Benjamin L. Perry and the State Board of Regents. Perry complained that “FAMU is ‘bursting at the seams’ because of a student housing storage,” a problem the institution has recurringly faced in recent years.
This document features seven detailed family trees of families deeply connected to the 1923 Rosewood massacre in an attempt to trace lineage, preserve historical value, and validate claims for compensation. They provide vital links to history to ensure descendants are recognized and connected to their heritage and the events of Rosewood.
Genealogies based on the Transmit Confirmation Report and related correspondence, designed to track the descendants of the 1923 Rosewood massacre victims. It outlines the process of verifying familial connections to ensure the accurate identification of descendants for historical recognition and potential compensation.
An outline of the report by the FAMU Faculty Administration Committee addresses the crisis following MLK’s assassination and the resulting student revolts. The committee highlights President Gore's efforts to seek constructive change while maintaining university operations and preserving FAMU's reputation amidst the closure.
The Gadsden County court administered the estate of Titus Farr. The administration detailed Farr's assets, reflecting the economic reliance on enslaved labor in the region. This process underscored the legal framework of property management, where enslaved people were treated as assets and sold to settle debts.
