St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Merger-Expansion Years

St. Augustine 1941 - 1952

— Florida Memorial University A.L. Lewis Archway Plaza —

Merger-Expansion Years Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Merger-Expansion Years Marker

Inscription.

Merger-Expansion Years. St. Augustine 1941 - 1952. , The next decade brought much change to the Institute. Under the direction of President Reverend R. L. Holley and the Southern Baptist Convention, the Live Oak and St. Augustine institutions merged in 1941. The limited curriculum offerings as a junior college expanded to create a four-year liberal arts institution., In 1944, the college was renamed Florida, Normal and Industrial College. The next year, the first four-year class graduated. By 1950, the College's name changed again, to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College., In 1951, the institution was accredited as a baccalaureate degree granting institution by the Florida Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The College also opened extension divisions throughout the state., Timeline Legend , (gold/black) Indicates historical milestones for the merger of Florida Baptist Institute of Live Oak and Florida Baptist Academy of St. Augustine to become Florida Normal and Industrial College located in St. Augustine in 1941., (black) African American History Milestones, (gold/black) 1941 Under the direction of president Reverend R.L. Holley and the Southern Baptist Convention, the Live Oak and St. Augustine institutions merged. , , (black) 1941 U.S. enters world war two. , , (gold/black) 1942 Dr. Noah Gray, Jr. , , (black) 1942 The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) is founded in Chicago. , , (gold/black) 1944 Dr. John Tilley named President and the school was renamed Florida Normal and Industrial College. , , (black) 1945 World War II ends. , , (black) 1948 President Harry Truman issues Executive Order 9981 directing the desegregation of the armed forces. , , (gold/black) 1950 Dr. Royal W. Puryear named President. , , (gold/black) 1952 The college organized and opened extension divisions in various cities throughout the State in Daytona, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Marianna, River Junction, and Tampa. , (captions) , Florida Normal and Industrial Institute's Seal in 1941-42., Florida Normal and Industrial Institute’s Bulletin was a record of the previous academic year (1941-42) and included announcements for the upcoming academic year (1942-43)., The first graduating class including students from all over Florida, Georgia and one from Liberia in Africa., Students had the opportunity to participate in several trade programs and extracurricular activities at the College., Program from 1944 Basketball Tournament.

The next decade brought much change to the Institute. Under the direction of President Reverend R. L. Holley and the Southern Baptist Convention, the Live Oak and St. Augustine institutions merged in 1941. The limited curriculum offerings as a junior college expanded to create a four-year liberal arts institution.

In 1944, the college was renamed Florida, Normal and Industrial College. The next year, the first four-year class graduated. By 1950, the College's name changed again, to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College.

In 1951, the institution was accredited as a baccalaureate degree granting institution by the Florida Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The College also opened extension divisions throughout the state.

Timeline Legend
(gold/black) Indicates historical milestones for the merger of Florida Baptist Institute of Live Oak and Florida Baptist Academy of St. Augustine to become Florida Normal and Industrial College located in St. Augustine in 1941.

(black) African American History Milestones

(gold/black) 1941 Under the direction of president Reverend R.L. Holley and the Southern Baptist Convention, the Live Oak and St. Augustine institutions merged.

(black) 1941 U.S. enters WWII.

(gold/black) 1942 Dr. Noah Gray, Jr.

(black) 1942 The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) is founded in Chicago.

(gold/black) 1944 Dr. John Tilley named President and the school was renamed Florida Normal and Industrial College.

(black) 1945 World War II ends.

(black) 1948 President Harry Truman issues Executive Order 9981 directing the desegregation of the armed forces.

(gold/black) 1950 Dr. Royal W. Puryear named President.

(gold/black) 1952 The college organized and opened extension divisions in various cities throughout the State in Daytona, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Marianna, River Junction, and Tampa.
(captions)
Florida Normal and Industrial Institute's Seal in 1941-42.

Florida Normal and Industrial Institute’s Bulletin was a record of the previous academic year (1941-42) and included announcements for the upcoming academic year (1942-43).

The first graduating class including students from all over Florida, Georgia and one from Liberia in Africa.

Students had the opportunity to participate in several trade programs and extracurricular activities at the College.

Program from 1944 Basketball Tournament.

Erected 2011

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by Florida Memorial University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 29° 53.254′ N, 81° 21.259′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Holmes Boulevard and West King Street, on the right when traveling north. The Marker is located within Florida Memorial University A.L. Lewis Archway Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 North Holmes Boulevard, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in First Coast

and in Greater Jacksonville.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Merger-Expansion Years Marker

distance of this marker: Formative Years (here, next to this marker); Civil Rights Movement (here, next to this marker); College Years (a few steps from this marker); University Years (a few steps from this marker); Florida Memorial University (a few steps from this marker); Our Native Son Lieutenant General Ronald L. Bailey (a few steps from this marker); St. Johns Railway (within shouting distance of this marker); 1074 West King Street (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

Also see . . .
1. Florida Memorial College. (Submitted on January 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. A.L. Lewis Archway: Florida Normal & Industrial Institute. (Submitted on January 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. The History of Florida Memorial University. (Submitted on January 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.