At the time the Florida Institute was founded, Tallahassee was already home to a school for women, Tallahassee Female Academy. The two would be combined in 1857 to form West Florida Seminary. In 1861, with the start of the Civil War, the seminary was converted into a military academy for Confederate soldiers and renamed The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. Studies at the female academy were suspended at this time. The institute claimed local fame after its students successfully defended Tallahassee from Union soldiers in 1865 at the Battle of Natural Bridge in Woodville, FL. The victory was significant as it left Tallahassee as the only uncaptured capitol in the South. It was short-lived, however, as the Union would go on to win the war only two months later. After the war, the seminary resumed as it had previously.
In 1887, West Florida Seminary appointed its first President, Edward Edgar. During this time, the seminary crafted its first four-year liberal arts program. From this point, the seminary began to establish itself in secular studies. Because of this, Albert A. Murphree requested that the seminary be rebranded as a “college”. In 1901, the name began to be used but it was not until 1915 that it was officially implemented.
Surveying class at West Florida Seminary in 1900. The seminary had already begun offering secular classes but would not be called a "college" until the following year. (Image provided by Archives of Florida)
Background image provided by Archives of Florida
Confederate cadet at Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. (Image provided by Archives of Florida)