History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 10

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East Florida Seminary residence facility, is part of the structure of the present
First United Methodist Church in downtown Gainesville.
By Fall 1906, Andrew Sledd, the first UF President; twelve faculty; and 102
students moved UF from Lake City into two new facilities in Gainesville, Thom as
and Buckman Halls. Faculty were in charge of all UF operations – academics,
business operations, facilities, and student life. The President had the ultimate
authority on all things.
Who were the early UF faculty and students? All were white males. Most early
faculty were from the Florida Agricultural College in Lake City, the land grant
institution. Land grant educational institutions were established to focus on
the teaching of practical subjects in addition to the liberal arts, specifically
agriculture and engineering. UF was non-sectarian but attendance at public
worship at least once each Sunday was required. Students were also required to
attend daily morning services conducted by the faculty. Students were required
to live in residence halls. From an early UF handbook: “Under the leadership
of its Dean, the faculty forms the governing body in matters of instruction
and Discipline in its college.” One of the first standing faculty committees was
“Discipline.”
Thomas and Buckman Halls were designed to be residence halls but housed the
entire UF operations for a number of years. Thomas Hall housed administrative
offices in the north section; classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium, a library, a
dining room, and a kitchen in the center sections; and an agricultural experiment
station in the south section. Buckman Hall housed students and had an infirmary,
gymnasium, and living quarters for the Officer-in-Charge. The Officer-in-Charge
was the faculty member who was the immediate supervisor of the general life of
students. The incentive to take on this responsibility was free room and board,
an attractive incentive to younger or unmarried faculty. President Sledd also
lived for a time on the second and third floors of Buckman A, and Professor
James Farr (Professor of English and later Vice President and Interim President)
as well as Professor John R. Benton (Engineering) were Officers-in-Charge at
various times. Professor L.W. Buchholz (Education) also lived on campus in
Thomas Hall to provide counseling and guidance to students from 1924-1929,
the time period leading up to the official appointment of the first UF Dean of
Students.

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