Florida Agricultural College Forum Society Minutes

Collection

Identifier: Ms Coll. 074

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The minutes of the society contain roll calls, debate topics, judges' verdicts, entertainment provided, and speeches given at each meeting. Pages 43-44 of the minute book are missing.

Dates

Creation: 1900-1903

Creator

Forum Society (Florida Agricultural College). (Organization)

Access

University Archives collections are available for research. Portions of the collections may be restricted due to the requirements of applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA, and in accordance with best practices as defined by the Society of American Archivists.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Forum Society was a student debating society at the Florida Agricultural College, Lake City. In addition to debates between fellow Forum members, the society held debates with its rival, the Bema Society.

Florida Agricultural College (FAC) was established in Lake City, Florida in 1884. FAC was the first land grant college in the state of Florida, and as such received federal and state funding. Because of its land grant status, the FAC also had an agricultural experiment station as a part of the college. FAC was a co-educational school, with a military component required for all male students. In 1903, the FAC’s name was briefly changed to the University of Florida.

In 1905, the Buckman Act reorganized higher education in the state of Florida, and four of the state’s institutions were merged to form the University of the State of Florida (now the University of Florida). The four institutions that were merged were the East Florida Seminary, the Florida Agricultural College (University of Florida at Lake City), the St. Petersburg Normal and Industrial School, and the South Florida Military College.