Florida Flambeau (Group F)

History of the Florida Flambeau

The Florida Flambeau (“Flambeau”, French for “Torch”), the school newspaper for the Florida State College for Women, was first published on January 23, 1915. The Flambeau, primarily, published articles about the college’s history, development, and on-campus activities, in addition, to local news (the city of Tallahassee and State of Florida). The newspaper continued through the college’s transition from Florida State College for Women to Florida State University, on May 15, 1947. It wasn’t until 1972, the newspaper moved off-campus, becoming independent of the college; continuing to focus on reporting news about the community and college. However, in 1992, the students of Florida State University, unsatisfied with the direction of The Flambeau, established a rival newspaper, the FSView.

During this time, one of the concerns students had with The Flambeau was its precieved contempt for Greek organizations, so the rival newspaper, FSView, took a weekly publishing, Greek-orientated approach that quickly captured the advertising market as well. The price of activism was high, causing The Florida Flambeau to struggle financially, eventually being bought by the FSView, in 1998, merging to become the FSView & Florida Flambeau. Then in 2006, the newspaper, the Tallahassee Democrat, owned by Gannett (owner of the news outlet, USA Today, as well), purchased the FSView & Florida Flambeau. In 2015, Florida Flambeau celebrated 100 years of having the honor of being the Florida State University student newspaper. It has been a steadfast voice of opposition, giving students the ability to have opinions stated about ongoing events that pertain to them. The newspaper continues to be "student-run", and is published under the title, FSView & Florida Flambeau. 

Journalism in Action

During the 1950-60s, FSU had a journalism school. With this program, it seemed appropriate to keep a student newspaper. While the Flambeau had staff that had journalism majors, there were also many with different majors. Many public policy-related majors sought this as an opportunity to obtain experience. Moni Basu, an award-winning Iraq war reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and present-day CNN correspondent, began her journalism days at the Flambeau while she earned a master’s degree in international relations. Martin Dyckman, another award-winning reporter and editorial writer for Tampa Bay Times, was a part of the Flambeau throughout his degree. These individuals are examples of the real-life experience and application they received through the detailed and nonstop life that was the Flambeau. To learn every component of the print business is important for reporters for while in modern times we rely on information to be given to us electronically, this all originated through the press, which had to maintain speed and consistency of accurate news delivery.

Current Operations

The FSView & Flambeau publishes weekly on Mondays during the fall and spring semesters (following the Florida State University academic calendar).

    Current News Coverage:

  • News: FSU On-Campus activity and activity in the Tallahassee community. (Events, Programs, Crime, etc.)
  • Arts & Culture: Coverage of music, pop culture, and food throughout the community.
  • Views: FSU student opinions and editorials on news, politics, movies, and music.
  • Sports: Coverage of Seminole athletics, including football, soccer, baseball, basketball, and more.

Historical Importance

The Florida Flambeau (Currently, The FSView & Flambeau) has played an important role in the history of Florida State College/University, since the paper's founding in 1915. The newspaper gives us a significant look into the past, both in the context of the college and Tallahassee community, as well as, in the context of the time-period.

Due to the mass media stance of the 1920s, newspapers were the main means of mass communication only because radios were still in the midst of development and improvement. It is no surprise that The Florida Flambeau maintained consistency with providing details that provide readers with a snapshot of specific points in time: traditions, social norms, societal ideals, trends, opinions, and more. The newspaper was, also, an important source for the students, of both F. S. C. W and F. S. U, to learn information about events (ex. Freshmen-Junior Weddings, Recitals/Plays, Pageants, Celebrations, etc.), programs (ex. school clubs), politics, entertainment (concerts, museum and art exhibits, movies, literature, and poetry reading, etc., sports (Odds v. Evens, Basketball, Volleyball, etc.), business (through advertisements), and much more.

Noted in Sellers’ Femina Perfecta, the Flambeau maintained consistent with administration approval in terms of publishing opinions of students. Noted is that after World War One, the paper spoke more boldly about students’ concerns on and off-campus. It took time for the paper to be able to gain this momentum of consistent student opinions. To be able to challenge faculty directly through the student newspaper is a bold move, for faculty bring in revenue at a much faster rate than the student newspaper, so this cautious form of protest essentially gives students a voice that should not be immediately shut down.

An attempt to see the advancements the Flambeau was making is to note that during the 1920s, popular magazines such as Reader’s Digest, Time, and Vanity Fair were all founded during this time period. To be able to publish a school newspaper amidst the birth of America’s biggest reads is a powerful comparison. As the school newspaper continued to publish, this also gave the students the ability to mirror foreign and domestic news because all of these publications were weekly, so updates remained consistent in terms of aesthetics and validity of the paper.

A Look at F. S. C. W. and F. S. U. News Throughout The Years

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  Figure 1: The Florida Flambeau newspaper from October 3, 1925:

"The Florida Flambeau"

This article informs its readers The Florida Flambeau was "Published Weekly by the Students of the Florida State College For Women", as well as, listing the names of key personal in charge various leadership positions and portions of the newspaper: Editor-in-Chief, Assistant Editor, Associate Editor, Front Page, Campus, City, and Off-Campus Circulation, along with other positions necessary to run an effective newspaper. In it are various announcement regarding updates and changes at the College. A new Dean of Students, Dr. Mina Kerr is now a part of the College. Stated is the importance of her goal of seeing the campus promote citizenship, balancing the topics of social personality and developing standards of health and law so that the women enrolled in the College will face all opportunities with power and capability to succeed. Continued through its history, the Dean of Students remains the position in which their goal is to further promote student success through not just academics, but character.

A welcoming message from Dr. E. Conradi speaks directly to the new class. This is followed up by a personal message welcoming "our 'baby class'", the entering freshman class of 1925. The message continues to inform Freshman of how "proud", inspired, and "glad", others, especially the Junior class, are that they are at F. S. C. W. and are looking forward to their contribution to the school.

Seen are exchanges available to the students, such as pressing rooms, sewing machines, and the pound, along with the location and individuals associated with them. The consistency of providing not only information that warms the student soul, such as welcome messages, but also crucial information that adds to their efficiency and punctuality is essential in a student newspaper, for these students treated the newspaper as a direct source of information. In modern-day FSU, this information is found on specific websites the university would set for such services. Rather than listing all laundry machines, as an example, it uses the housing website to list the services per each residence hall page.

Lastly, they write, "The Flambeau is the means through which you can express your candid opinions and we want you to do so"; encouraging them to write in or become a journalist for the paper.

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Figure 2: The Florida Flambeau newspaper from September 27, 1924:

"Centennial History Now In Preparation"

In this article, it discusses the important role "the History and Social Service departments of F. S. C. W." plays in publishing the Centennial History of Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. Leon County has played a significant role in Florida's history, so it is not only of local significance, but statewide. It continued by discussing what source materials will be included in the book: Spanish maps, woodcuts and other unpublished historical material. It ends the newspaper section with beginning to list the table of contents of the booklet.

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Figure 3: The Florida Flambeau newspaper from May 16, 1947:

The F. S. C. W. transition to becoming F. S. U.

This issue of The Flambeau was an important one because it was published the day after "Governor Millard Caldwell signed the bill passed last week by the Legislature making Florida State College for Women co-educational and changing its name". The newspaper's first two pages include the following article headlines discussing this transition to becoming Florida State Universe:

  • FSC Is Dead After 38 Years, Coeducational FSU Is Born
  • FSU Enrolls First Male as Co-Ed Bill Is Signed Into Law
  • Florida State University Becomes Name of New Coed Institution Created at 9:50 AM Yesterday
  • Parting Is Such
  • Legislature In Brief
  • Male Eye View
  • Students Speak..

These articles discuss the multitude of changes that appeared. Florida State's name has gone through four name changes, with its' original name being Seminary West of the Suwanee River, a men's college in 1857.

The enrollment of the first male, John Patterson, who was also a veteran, is honored for being the first man to be accepted into the now Florida State University. The article directly states “FSU Enrolls First Male as Co-Ed Bill Is Signed Into Law” which further signifies the shock that comes with a once woman-only campus to begin to have students who are not women.

The school song, originally being “Femina Perfecta”, was in need of a change. An ad in the newspaper is placed asking for students to submit entries. Included in the ad is an example entry by English instructor Mrs. Olive H. Cross. By placing an ad asking for students themselves to submit entries rather than faculty alone making the decision, it is observed that a student-centered approach is wanted in the new culture that should arise with the new name.

Also are included personal messages discussing students feelings regarding the matter (Shock and hope for what the future brings; and discussing males' point of view and hope for normalcy) , and their opinions (With mixed emotions and thoughts from how school government will work, to integration of public spaces to sports, and even, discusses old and prospective new tradtions).

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Figure 3: The Florida Flambeau newspaper from May 16, 1947:

Advertisements in the paper

This newspaper includes the following ads:

  • Spalding and Wright & Ditson Sports Equipment: A Sports Equipment business ad. 
  • The Mecca: A popular eatery, across from the gate of Florida State University, ad.
  • Let’s Take A Trip To Wakulla---: An ad for a weekend trip to Wakulla springs, that the college was offering. 
  • Camels: Cigarette ad. 
  • Coca Cola: Coca Cola advertised for 5 cents per bottle. 
  • Pike Studio: Photography Studio advertising graduation photographs. 
  • Moore’s Music CO.: Music Company advertising "10% Off for the Next 10 Days" for phonographs.
  • W. C. Vason, Jr. Jeweler: An ad placed by a Jeweler.   

Due to the time period, it seems reasonable that cigarettes, coca-cola, and photography ads are present. With a college campus, aspects such as graduating photos should be advertised so that students know where to find such services. Quick refreshments, such as the famous Coca Cola, were popular amongst the youth. Specifically, during the 1930-40s, it was common to see cigarette ads everywhere, even in a school paper. Cigarette campaigns, such as Camel and Luckies, targetted certain consumers, such as women, with weight loss techniques to swap sweets for cigarettes. The time period plays a major role in this advertisement as well, since cigarettes were so popular at the time, it was considered a norm for both men and women. Other ads seen are music companies, eateries, jewelers, and weekend trips, which were all common luxuries near a college campus. Consistently, all of this information was through the newspaper, giving access for all students.

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So, as you can see, The Florida Flambeau published varying content from personal messages, to community event news, to news about the school, and even, advertisements. These different components give us a look into what life was like during these different time periods. 

Works Cited

Ensley, Gerald. “FSU Student Paper Celebrates 100 Years.” Tallahassee Democrat, 22 Jan. 2015, www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2015/01/21/fsu-student-paper-celebrates-years/22115333/

Florida State University Housing Department. “University Housing.” University Housing - Florida State University, Florida State University, housing.fsu.edu/current-residents/residence-halls#/home

“FSView & Florida Flambeau.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FSView_&_Florida_Flambeau

Gardner, Martha N, and Allan M Brandt. “‘The Doctors' Choice Is America's Choice’: the Physician in US Cigarette Advertisements, 1930-1953.” American Journal of Public Health, © American Journal of Public Health 2006, Feb. 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470496/

“History of Tallahassee, Florida.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Apr. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tallahassee,_Florida#Early_history

Modras, Megan, and Jolie Mills. “Mass Media.” Culture of the 1920s, Weebly, cultureof1920s.weebly.com/mass-media.html

Musser, Rick. “History of American Journalism.” History of American Journalism, International Thompson Publishing Company, 2007, history.journalism.ku.edu/1920/1920.shtml#social

“On This Day in Florida History - May 15, 1947 - Florida State College for Women Goes Co-Ed, Renamed FSU.” Florida History Network - Your One-Stop Source for Celebrating and Preserving Florida's Past, Today, www.floridahistorynetwork.com/may-15-1947---florida-state-college-for-women-goes-co-ed-renamed-fsu.html 

Sellers, Robin Jeanne. Femina Perfecta: the Genesis of Florida State University. Florida State University Foundation, 1995.

“The Florida Flambeau : Florida.State University : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Tallahassee, Fla. : Florida State College for Women, 1 Jan. 1966, archive.org/details/Florida_Flambeau_1966_Mar/page/n8/mode/2up

Florida Flambeau (Group F)