Florida State College for Women

According to Robin Sellers' Femina Perfecta, in 1914 members of the even-year classes of Florida State College for Women (juniors and freshmen) wore their green and yellow class colors to chapel on the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving. A spontaneous pep rally ensued. On the following Wednesday, odd-year class members (seniors, sophomores, and sub-freshmen) carried canes wrapped with ribbons in their individual class colors of red, white, and purple. On Thanksgiving Day the odd-year classes defeated the even-year classes 26-5 in basketball and celebrated with a march into town before they returned to a traditional turkey in the recently-completed dining hall. From 1910-1920, President Conradi allowed students to establish several rituals, the most important of which were athletic contests between Odds and Evens. Competition between the two groups remained keen and Thanksgiving continued to be the focal point of the rivalry. Odd/Even rivalries continued practically unaltered from the 1920s through the 1940s, and ended in 1946 with the arrival of male students at the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida.

From the description of Florida State College for Women/Florida State University "Odd" team beanies. (Florida State University). WorldCat record id: 659513135

In 1905, through the Buckman Act, the State Legislature reorganized higher education in Florida, establishing a school for male students in Gainesville, and a school for female students in Tallahassee. Florida State College in Tallahassee became the female school and was named Florida Female College. In 1909, because of objections to the name it was renamed Florida State College for Women (FSCW).

In 1946 a flood of applicants at the University of Florida created a crisis situation. As a result a branch accommodating 500 men opened at Tallahassee's Dale Mabry Field, a deactivated army installation. In 1947 the Legislature designated both the University of Florida and Florida State College for Women as coeducational, at the same time changing the name of FSCW to The Florida State University.

From the description of Florida State College for Women (FSCW) history 1910-1976 (bulk 1910-1946). (Florida State University). WorldCat record id: 52397987

• 1905: The Florida Legislature establishes Florida Female College.
• 1909: The Florida Legislature changes name to the Florida State College for Women (FSCW).
• 1909: Dr. Edward Conradi becomes college president.
• 1911 - 1916 : The erection of the Wescott Building (Administrative Building) marked a time of rapid expansion for the college. The School of Education was created, and many new dormitories were built. Finally, in 1915 the FSCW became fully accredited and was admitted to the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States (now called the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).
• 1920: Enrollment reaches 500 and the first dean of the School of Music, Ella Scoble Opperman, is hired.
• 1928: Enrollment reaches 1500 and FSCW becomes the seventh largest college for women in the country.
• 1930: Enrollment expands to 2,663. Because of the Great Depression, students often barter citrus and livestock with the University to cover fees. Faculty reaches 176 members.
• 1933: 16 teachers are fired due to Depression era legislative cutbacks and budget concerns. However, in the late 1930s, FSCW recovers, and the campus continues to acquire land and buildings. New faculty are added and FSCW quickly becomes the third largest women's college in the country.
• 1941: Dr. Edward Conradi retires.

From the guide to the Florida State College for Women Surveys and Reports, 1911-1941, 1920-1939, (Florida State University Libraries)