The Florida State University Heritage Protocol program is a campus wide initiative, mandated by the President of the University, and dedicated to identifying, cataloging, acquiring, and preserving items related to the institutional history and cultural heritage of Florida State University and its predecessor institutions.  The mission includes the additional focus of documenting the student experience through items and artifacts provided by former students, representative of their years at the university.  It is only through these items, provided by the students that lived the experience themselves, that a fuller picture of college life in a bygone era can be achieved.

Please consider supporting the FSU Heritage Protocol program, either by donating personal artifacts and memorabilia, by donating funds, contacting the FSU Oral History program, or by contributing in various other ways.  Please contact Eddie Woodward, the Heritage Protocol Archivist if with questions, comments and suggestions concerning either the program or the website.

News (April 5, 2008). Co-founder and driving force behind Heritage Protocol, the late Mary Lou Norwood, was posthumously honored by the Alumni Association with the Conradi Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emeritus Alumni Society Award Ceremony Brunch at the Alumni Center Grand Ballroom. The award was presented by President Emeritus Talbot Sandy D'Alemberte and his wife, Heritage Protocol co-founder, Patsy Palmer and was accepted by Mary Lou Norwood’s good friend, Janet Stoner and Margaret Norwood Dunn, Mary Lou's niece.

Notes from the Road (April 4, 2008). Heritage Protocol played a supporting role at the Alumni Association’s Emeritus/Golden Reunion Weekend by providing a table of artifacts for the attendees’ perusal. At the event, Mary Louise Bachman (’58) donated a nice collection of student ephemera from her years at Florida State University.

Notes from the Road (March 27, 2008). Eddie Woodward, the Heritage Protocol Archivist gave a PowerPoint presentation on Heritage Protocol to the Jefferson County Emeritus Society at a luncheon, sponsored by the Jefferson County Seminole Club, at the historic Monticello Opera House in Monticello, Florida. Heritage Protocol supplied enough artifacts to fill four tables at the event. In addition, the College of Human Sciences loaned a woman's FSU cheerleading uniform and the FSU Flying High Circus permitted the display of one of their recently retired costumes. Human Sciences also provided the dressforms used for the event display.

Notes from the Road (February 11, 2008). Eddie Woodward, the Heritage Protocol Archivist gave a presentation on Heritage Protocol to the Clay County Emeritus Society at a luncheon, hosted by Ronald Jutila (’55), at the Magnolia Point Golf & Country Club in Green Cove Springs, Florida. At the event, Ms. Carolyn Stoner kindly donated a ticket stub from the October 9, 1948, FSU vs. Cumberland University football game to Heritage Protocol.

Notes from the Road (January 30, 2008). Heritage Protocol played a supporting role in the Tallahassee Area Emeritus Luncheon at the Alumni Association. The event featured Dr. William Oldson from the FSU World War II Institute as the speaker. At the luncheon, Mr. Everett Yarbrough (’57) of Tallahassee donated a Sammy Seminole tie to Heritage Protocol.

Notes from the Road (January 29, 2008). Eddie Woodward, the Heritage Protocol Archivist and Donna McHugh, Associate Vice President for University Relations and the Co-Chairperson of the Heritage Protocol Executive Committee gave a joint presentation to the Academy at FSU at the Pepper Center. In the well attended lunchtime event, Eddie gave an introduction to Heritage Protocol and a brief tour of the website and database. Donna followed with a PowerPoint presentation virtual tour of both Legacy Walks 1 & 2.

Notes from the Road (September 28, 2007). Heritage Protocol provided a large number of artifacts for an FSU Foundation Board of Trustees event in Jacksonville the Friday before the FSU vs. University of Alabama football game. The FSU Presidents Club sponsored affair was a party/reception, on September 28 from 6:30 to 9:30 at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens at 829 Riverside Avenue. The guests included President’s Club members as well as a group of prospective donors. The theme for the party was, “Evens and Odds: A Private Showing of Florida State University.” Heritage Protocol made available numerous artifacts to fill three four by four acrylic cases in the loggia at the event. In addition, the Ambassadors and Archivists with the Flying High Circus, the College of Nursing, and the College of Human Sciences provided clothing, costumes and uniforms, all of which helped to add depth and dimension to the event.

Notes from the Road (September 12, 2007). Heritage Protocol served in support of the Panama City Chapter’s Eighth Annual Emeritus Alumni Gathering on September 12 at 11:30 in the Banquet Hall at the Black Angus in Panama City. The event featured the reflections of emeritus alumni, Margaret Lewis (’39) on life, rules and regulations at FSCW, Cal Koesy (’49) on life as a TBUFer, Sara Cooper (’51) on college life and circus memories, and John Vickers (’52) on life at FSU and on West Campus. For this event, Heritage Protocol provided items related to the topics of each of their reminiscences, such as FSCW Student Handbooks, photographs, TBUF artifacts, circus programs, yearbooks and more.

Notes from the Road (July 21, 2007). Heritage Protocol participated in its first ever real roadshow at the annual Marianna Chapter Seminole Club/Emeritus Alumni luncheon at the Gazebo on July 21. This was uncharted territory for the roadshow crew, consisting of Eddie Woodward, the Heritage Protocol Archivist, Dr. Lucy Patrick, the Director of Special Collections and Dr. Mary Lou Norwood, class of ’47 and driving force behind Heritage Protocol. One of the guests in attendance, Ms. Leora Pruitt King (’42) was kind enough to bring along the letters of her aunt, Ms. Nellie Godfrey (Class of 1906) to share with the enthusiastic luncheon crowd. The voluminous and important letters document her career as a school teacher on the frontier panhandle of Florida. While at the event, Ms. King donated a 1939 FSCW Thanksgiving menu to Heritage Protocol. Others who contributed items included Mr. Tony Klappas (’58) of Grand Ridge, who was kind enough to donate his 1958 yearbook to Heritage Protocol; and Ms. Donna McCrea (’51) of Marianna brought in a 1949 photograph of herself, Professor Thomas Wright, and others producing a radio show. However, the event show stopper would have to go to Ms. Dorothy Peacock Ayers (’47) of Blountstown who brought in a 1910 FSCW diploma which she purchased at a Jacksonville flea market for two dollars! The item is signed by the governor, Albert W. Gilchrist and the president of FSCW, Edward Conradi.

If you have an Alumni or Emeritus event you would like us to participate in, please contact either Stephanie Lamb with the FSU Emeritus Alumni Society or Eddie Woodward to make arrangements.