In 1851, the Florida Legislature passed a bill authorizing the establishment of two seminaries to instruct men and women in "teaching...mechanic arts, in husbandry and agricultural chemistry" and other "arts which ennoble man and make him truly independent." In 1853, the East Florida Seminary opened in Ocala but moved to Gainesville in 1866 following the Civil War. The state legislature established the Florida Agricultural College, which opened its doors in Lake City in 1884, in accordance with the Morrill Act of 1862. Under the Hatch Act of 1887, Florida established its Agricultural Experiment Station at the Florida Agricultural College.
The Buckman Act of 1905 abolished the existing state supported schools and created four schools, including the University of the State of Florida. After Lake City and Gainesville fought over the new University, the Agricultural College and Agricultural Experiment Station moved to Gainesville and merged with the East Florida Seminary to form the new University. Its name eventually was changed to the University of Florida.
The Buckman Act of 1905 abolished the existing state supported schools and created four schools, including the University of the State of Florida. After Lake City and Gainesville fought over the new University, the Agricultural College and Agricultural Experiment Station moved to Gainesville and merged with the East Florida Seminary to form the new University. Its name eventually was changed to the University of Florida.
Florida State Museum, State Park Exhibit Files, 1955-1972 (Series S1958)
Florida Agricultural College professor of Natural Science, Frank Pickel, purchased research collections of minerals, fossils, and human anatomy models as aids in teaching biology and agricultural sciences in 1891. When the Florida Agricultural College was abolished in 1905, the museum became a part of the University of Florida and moved to Gainesville the following year.
In 1917, the State Legislature formally established the Florida State Museum at the University of Florida. After being housed in the Seagle Building in downtown Gainesville for 30 years, Dickinson Hall, funded by a $2.2 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation, was built to house the museum. It was completed in 1970. With the establishment of the Florida State History Museum in the 1970s in Tallahassee, the Florida State Museum focused more on natural and Precolumbian topics. In 1988, the Florida State Museum changed its name to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The series contains the Florida State Museum's exhibit files for the Florida Park Service from 1955 through 1972. The series consists of correspondence, tour scripts, exhibit layouts and text, research files, and news clippings. The correspondence documents the historical interpretive issues between the museum, the park service, and various Florida historians.
Extent: 1.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: Arranged by subject
Finding Aid: Folder listing
Florida Agricultural College professor of Natural Science, Frank Pickel, purchased research collections of minerals, fossils, and human anatomy models as aids in teaching biology and agricultural sciences in 1891. When the Florida Agricultural College was abolished in 1905, the museum became a part of the University of Florida and moved to Gainesville the following year.
In 1917, the State Legislature formally established the Florida State Museum at the University of Florida. After being housed in the Seagle Building in downtown Gainesville for 30 years, Dickinson Hall, funded by a $2.2 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation, was built to house the museum. It was completed in 1970. With the establishment of the Florida State History Museum in the 1970s in Tallahassee, the Florida State Museum focused more on natural and Precolumbian topics. In 1988, the Florida State Museum changed its name to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The series contains the Florida State Museum's exhibit files for the Florida Park Service from 1955 through 1972. The series consists of correspondence, tour scripts, exhibit layouts and text, research files, and news clippings. The correspondence documents the historical interpretive issues between the museum, the park service, and various Florida historians.
Extent: 1.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: Arranged by subject
Finding Aid: Folder listing