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History of FAMU
History of FAMU
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection AR_0007 · Collection

Every university has a history, but few have a history as unique and impressive as ours. For more than 130 years, Florida A&M University has served the citizens of the State of Florida and the nation by providing preeminent educational programs...programs that were the building blocks of a legacy of academic excellence with caring. FAMU, “Florida’s Opportunity University,” is committed to meeting the challenges and needs of future generations.

In 1884, Thomas Van Renssaler Gibbs, a Duval County educator, was elected to the Florida legislature. Although his political career ended abruptly because of the resurgence of segregation, Representative Gibbs successfully orchestrated the passage of House Bill 133 in 1884. This bill established a white normal school in Gainesville and a school for African Americans in Jacksonville. The bill passed, creating both institutions; however, the state decided to relocate the school for African Americans to Tallahassee.

After the bill’s passage, FAMU was founded on October 3, 1887. It began classes with 15 students and two (2) instructors. Thomas DeSaille Tucker (1887-1901), an attorney from Pensacola, was chosen as the first president. Former State Representative Gibbs joined Mr. Tucker as the second faculty member.

In 1891, the College received $7,500 under the Second Morrill Act for agricultural and mechanical arts education. The State Normal College for Colored Students became Florida’s land grant institution for African Americans, and its name was changed to the State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students.

In 1905, the management of the College was transferred from the Board of Education to the Board of Control. This significant event officially designated the College as an institution of higher education.
In 1909 the name was changed from The State Normal College for Colored Students to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes (FAMC). The following year, with an enrollment of 317 students, the college awarded its first degrees.

President Nathan B. Young (1901-1923) directed the growth of the College to a four-year degree-granting institution, despite limited resources, offering the Bachelor of Science degree in education, science, home economics, agriculture, and mechanical arts.

Under the administration of John Robert Edward Lee Sr. (1924-1944), the College acquired much of the physical and academic image it has today. More faculty were hired, courses were upgraded, and accreditation was received from several state agencies. By the end of Lee’s term, FAMC had 812 students and 122 staff members.

In 1949, under William H. Gray Jr. (1944-1949), expansion and reorganization continued. The College obtained an Army ROTC unit, and student enrollment grew to more than 2,000.
James N. Eaton, Sr. Collection
James N. Eaton, Sr. Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection AR_0012 · Collection

Location: AC.2.A.1.6.3 - AC.2.A.2.3.1; AC.3.B.3.3.1 - AC.3.B.3.3.2; AC.8.B.1.2.3 - AC.8.B.1.3.2

In 1975, James N. Eaton spearheaded the effort that ultimately gave rise to the creation of FAMU’s Black Archives. By 1976, the ‘Black Archives Research Center and Museum’ came into existence, and Eaton was recognized and appointed as its inaugural archivist, curator, and director.

For the next three decades, he helped amass a collection of memorabilia and printed records that now comprise one of the region’s most extensive collections of first-source material relating to the history, culture and contributions of people of African descent living in the United States.

James Eaton constructed in 1976 the first exhibits, using historical memorabilia from his own family. Afterward, he petitioned the university and community members to contribute historical material to the repository. Ilis call was answered by the first Black Archives donors and volunteers, who included: Donald Hill, Frank Pinder, John F. Matheus, and a host of other individuals and groups. Thus, the Research Center was chartered in 1976 and was officially opened in 1977.
Jesse Mccray Jr. Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0057

Location: AC.3.A.1.3.1 - AC.3.A.1.3.5

Jesse J. McCrary Jr. (1937–2007) was a pioneering lawyer, civil rights activist, and public official from Florida. Born in Blitchton, Florida, he earned his law degree from Florida A&M University, where he was also active in organizing civil rights sit-ins.

In 1978, McCrary made history when he was appointed Florida’s Secretary of State, becoming the first African American to hold a Florida Cabinet position since Reconstruction. He also broke barriers as one of the first Black attorneys from a southern state to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Throughout his career, McCrary was a strong advocate for civil rights and equality, leaving a lasting legacy as a trailblazer in law and public service in Florida.

https://myfloridahistory.org/date-in-history/july-19-1978/jesse-j-mccrary-jr
Joe Nash Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0019 · Collection

Location: AC.8.B.4.4.1 - AC.8.B.4.7.1

The Joe Nash Collection documents a range of cultural, social, and media-related materials reflecting aspects of public life and community engagement. The collection includes advertisements, books, magazines, news clippings, newsletters, photographs, programs, and other publications such as theatrical playbills and posters.

These materials provide insight into entertainment, communication, and cultural expression across various contexts. The presence of theatrical playbills, programs, and posters highlights performance and artistic activity, while magazines, newsletters, and news clippings capture contemporary events, trends, and public discourse.

Photographs within the collection offer visual documentation that complements the printed materials, enhancing its research value. Collectively, the Joe Nash Collection preserves a diverse array of media formats, serving as a resource for understanding cultural production and the ways information and experiences were shared within communities.
John F. Matheus Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0056 · File · 1909-1983

Location: AC.2.B.3.6.2 - AC.3.A.1.2.8

The John F. Matheus Collection documents the life, literary career, and intellectual contributions of John Frederick Matheus, an American writer and scholar associated with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. The materials in this collection date from 1909 to 1983 and provide insight into Matheus’s development as a prominent literary figure known for his short stories, as well as his work in essays, plays, and poetry.

Matheus gained national recognition for his literary achievements, including his short story “Fog,” which won first place in Opportunity magazine’s literary contest in 1925 and was subsequently published in The New Negro. He continued to receive acclaim with his story “Swamp Moccasin,” which earned first prize in The Crisis magazine’s contest in 1926. His writing reflects the broader artistic and cultural movements of the Harlem Renaissance and was influenced by earlier literary figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edgar Allan Poe, Phillis Wheatley, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

The collection consists of personal papers and literary materials that illustrate both Matheus’s professional accomplishments and personal life. Included are correspondence, original manuscripts, notes, and newspaper articles that document his writing process and engagement with literary communities. Photographs and personal items further contextualize his experiences and relationships within the cultural and intellectual circles of his time.

Collectively, the John F. Matheus Collection provides valuable documentation of an important voice of the Harlem Renaissance and offers researchers insight into early twentieth-century African American literature, artistic expression, and scholarly thought.
John F. Mattheus Collection
Meek-Eaton Archival Collection MS_0056

Location: AC.2.B.3.6.2 - AC.2.B.3.6.6; AC.3.A.1.1.1 - AC.3.A.1.2.8; AC.3.B.3.3.4 - AC.3.B.3.3.5
John Frederick Matheus (1887–1983) was an American writer, scholar, and educator associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Keyser, West Virginia, he earned degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Columbia University and went on to teach at Florida A&M University and later at West Virginia State College.

Matheus was best known for his short stories, essays, plays, and poetry that explored African American life and culture. His story “Fog” won first place in a major literary contest and was included in Alain Locke’s influential anthology The New Negro, while “Swamp Moccasin” also earned national recognition.

Through his writing and teaching, Matheus contributed significantly to African American literature and helped shape the intellectual legacy of the Harlem Renaissance.

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/john-f-matheus