Florida State University Heritage Protocol

Heritage Protocol Mission Statement

The mission of the FSU Heritage Protocol is to locate, identify, record, assist in the preservation of, and promote knowledge about the heritage of Florida State University and its predecessor institutions. Students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and friends have expressed this heritage through published, unpublished, audio, and visual materials, memorabilia and ceremonial objects.

Tallahassee Democrat / February 24, 2008

Saving FSU's History: School Seeks Snippets of Campus Life

Gerald Ensley
The View From Here

Don't throw away those freshman beanies! Or photos of roommates on Landis Green. Or your circus programs, admissions letter or even yearbook.

Florida State wants all the memorabilia students have saved from their years on campus.

"I don't think there are any limits to what we would take if it relates to their FSU years," said Eddie Woodward, FSU's Heritage Protocol archivist. "To me, it's better to err on the side of taking too much."

Heritage Protocol is the elegant-sounding name for FSU's attempt to save artifacts of its past. It started in the early 1990s, when the late FSU historian Mary Lou Norwood and now-retired Alumni Association official Linda Henning realized many memorabilia were being lost, pilfered or carelessly discarded.

They began collecting such items in hopes they eventually would be formally preserved — though, as in most things, it took the bosses' getting concerned before anything was done. In 2001, FSU celebrated its 150th anniversary, but administrators found a paucity of artifacts for displays and events.

"We struggled to gather history," said Donna McHugh, FSU assistant vice president for university relations. "It was all in bits and pieces."

Then-President Sandy D'Alemberte decreed that FSU begin a formal collection process. But the program has really coalesced only since Woodward was hired last year. Now every FSU department is charged with collecting and preserving artifacts, documents and memorabilia. And Woodward is soliciting additional memorabilia and building an online database of all artifacts and documents.

The College of Nursing set the bar for the 40-plus FSU departments by vigorously collecting and displaying its history. Other departments have moved more slowly, guided by their budgets and the energy of their designated "Heritage Protocol Ambassador."

But Woodward's enthusiasm will carry the effort a long way.

Woodward, 47, came to FSU as a freshman in 1978, partied his way through three years, dropped out and spent nine years as a costumed waiter in historic Williamsburg, Va. Eventually he finished his bachelor's degree in Virginia and returned to FSU to earn a master's in history in 1998. He worked for the Virginia state library before FSU beckoned him home.

"I couldn't imagine coming to this position with this enthusiasm if I didn't have a connection to FSU," Woodward said. "I love this job. It's so exciting."

Much of what he has collected came through FSU's Emeritus Alumni Society — alumni who graduated at least 50 years ago. FSU currently has 7,200 living graduates in that category and will host an annual reunion for them in April.

Woodward said the frustrating part of his job is convincing people he wants their "old stuff." Many emeritus alumni have thrown out treasure troves of memorabilia because they thought no one would want them.

"They often hand it to me and sheepishly say to keep what I want and throw the rest away," he said. "I keep it all."

In his office, he uncovered a box recently donated by Beverly Jean Fogarty Smith, who attended FSU from 1946 to 1950. It includes a class-schedule card, a railroad baggage tag for Florida State College for Women, letters from upperclasswomen assigned to welcome freshmen before they arrived on campus and an assortment of programs from such events as the 1948 dedication of Cawthon Hall.

"You could say there is nothing remarkable in this collection — but it's typical of the student experience," he said. "This is a time capsule of four years at FSU."

Woodward's ultimate goal is to create a museum/research library for Heritage Protocol. McHugh said FSU administrators share that goal and are actively seeking a location.

One possibility is the Werkmeister Reading Room in Dodd Hall, the gorgeous original campus library, used for university receptions. Another possibility is Strozier Library, which is expected to be remodeled and expanded in the coming years.

"I think (Heritage Protocol) is way overdue," said Robin Sellers, director of FSU's oral-history program. "This is a statement about our traditions and how we honor the past."

It is part and parcel to the mission of Heritage Protocol that today’s students are made aware of Florida State University’s great history. It is hoped that over time more and more of the current student population will become involved in the Heritage Protocol program. If you are a student and would like to volunteer for a history related project, please contact Eddie Woodward at 850-645-7988 or by e-mail.