Created by Florida State University

Plans for higher education in Florida began in 1823 when the legislative council of the territory set aside for sale one township in East Florida and one in West Florida to support seminaries. In 1851, the State Legislature authorized the all-male Seminary West of the Suwannee. The property of the Florida Institute in Tallahassee (created in 1851) was offered to the state as a site for its new western seminary. The Legislature accepted the offer and the first classes were held in 1857. In 1858 females were admitted in a separate department called the Female Institute which operated, with its own Principal, until 1882 when the Seminary became coeducational.

During the Civil War, the 1863 Legislature passed an act changing the institution's name to The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. Cadets from this institute fought in the Battle of Natural Bridge south of Tallahassee in 1865. As a result of this participation, Florida State University's ROTC unit is entitled to add a battle streamer to its ROTC unit flag. It is one of only three university ROTC units in the U.S. to have this distinction. In summer 1865, Federal troops occupied the Seminary buildings. The Female Department, inactive during the war, resumed activity in 1866. In 1901 the name of The West Florida Seminary was changed to the Florida State College, and the first master's degree was offered the following year.

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