Last graduating class of Florida State College. First class to wear caps and gowns. L-R standing: Ruby Diamond, Burton Belcher, Arthur Shutan, David Cook, William Byrd, Bershe Meginniss Oven. L-R seated: N. Clare Bowen, Robert McCord, Grace Cramer, Frank Gammon, Agnes Apthorp Proctor.

Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

1901 - 1905: The Florida State Seminary West of the Suwannee River changes its name to the Florida State College in 1901.

Image: Florida State University Libraries

1897 - 1905: The Platonic Debating Society was founded by students of the Florida Seminary West of the Suwanne River on December 17th, 1897. As such, it was the first iteration of the over 120 year history of academic debate at Florida State University.

Image: Florida State University Libraries

Public debates were open to the public and often held in Munro's Opera House, the site of the first intercollegiate debate in the state of Florida.

Image: Florida Memory

Public debates were often held in Munro's Opera House to accommodate crowds of 300 or more.

Image: Florida Memory

Debate held on Friday evening, March 10, 1905 in the chapel hall "Should This Government Own and Operate Railroads?" Dickinson & Woodberry (A) v. Kelly & Hancock (N) 2-1 Decision for the Affirmative.

Weekly True Democrat, March 17, 1905, p. 1.

Image: Young Debate