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History of the ECE Department: 1853 - 1909

 

1853-1904
	On January 6, 1853, Florida Governor Thomas Brown signed the bill that provided public support to higher education. East Florida Seminary in Ocala is one of the first schools to use this funding, but it soon closesd due to the Civil War. In 1866, the East Florida Seminary reopened in Gainesville, beginning a 150-year journey to become one of the largest, most prestigious schools in the world. The East Florida Seminary combined with the Florida Agricultural College, St Petersburg Normal and Industrial School, and South Florida Military Colelge to become the University of the State of Florida, one of four state universities.
	Legend has it that all of the faculty and male students of military age served in some capacity in the service of the Confederacy during the Civil War thereby temporarily closing the East Florida Seminary.
	In 1866, the East Florida Seminary reopens and moves to Gainesville. One of the original buildings, Epworth Hall, is still in use today and displays a marker signifying its importance to the Gainesville community. In 1884, the school moved to Lake City, then Eau Gallie, and then back to Lake City.
1905
	By 1905, the State of Florida was supporting eight separate institutions of higher learning, and the increase of their monetary support requests caused concern in the Legislature. Represenative Henry H. Buckman, with the support of Governor Broward, introduced a bill, which, with some committee modifications, provided for the consolidation of all State supported higher education systems into two institutions. These were the Florida Female College (for women) and the University of the State of Florida (for men). This bill, passed by the Legislature and signed into law June 5, 1905, is known as the Buckman Act. State management and oversight was vested in a five man Board of Control.
	Gainesville lobbied for the new University of Florida. When the good news was announced, a noisy celebration with the ringing of church bells, a parade and exploding firecrackers.
	During the academic year 1905-06, because suitable building could not be erected in time at Gainesville, it was found necessary to carry on the work of the University at Lake City.
1906
	The Gainesville campus opens for registration on September 24, 1906. Classes begin two days later for the 102 students enrolled. Originally, of the 589 acres of the University's land, 90 acres were devoted to the campus, drill-ground, and athletic fields; 135 acres to the Agriculture College farm; and the remainder to the Agricultural Experiment Station.
	Founding electrical engineering class begins with George B. Ames of Tallahassee, Ralph S. Chapin of Gainesville, Charles Larson of White City, and A. Hadley Taylor of Coleman.
1908
	Electrical Engineering becomes part of the Technological School
	John R. Benton was department's only faculty member
	The Dynamo Lab, a 35' x 18', one-story building specifically for electrical engineering, was one of the three new buildings in the fall of 1908.
	Founding class graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree.
1909
	Ossian W. Drane of Lakeland, Florida received first Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.