Even before Florida became a state, legislators were planning to establish college studies in the territory. Officials decided that two institutes would be founded: one to the west of the Suwannee river and one to the east. In attempts to bring the institutes to their cities, Florida town councils hastily sent petitions to the territorial legislators, appealing to them with offers of land, buildings, and funding. After receiving more than half a dozen requests from cities, it was decided that the western institute would be located in Tallahassee and the eastern in Ocala. The Florida Institute (renamed West Florida Seminary in 1857) was founded in 1851, with East Florida Seminary being founded shortly after in 1852. The two would later become what are now Florida State University and University of Florida.
Petition from Pensacola citizens attempting to bring West Florida Seminary to their city. (Image provided by Archives of Florida)
Early images of Seminary Building at West Florida Seminary. Photos were taken in 1870 (left) and 1884 (right). Seminary was founded in 1851; however, photographs were uncommon at the time. (Images provided by Archives of Florida)
Background image provided by Archives of Florida