Winners of First Intercollegiate Debate in State of Florida. Carter & Clark defeated Florida Agricultural College at Lake City (University of Florida) negating the question "Resolved, That United States Senators should be elected by a direct vote of the people." The debate was held at Munro's Opera House on May 5th, 1899 before a large audience.

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The Argo, v. 1. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Seminary West of the Suwannee, 1900-1901, p. 67.

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The Argo, v. 1. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Seminary West of the Suwannee, 1900-1901, p. 109.

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The Argo, v. 2. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1901-1902, p. .

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The Argo, v. 2. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1901-1902, p. .

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The Argo, v. 3. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1902-1903, p. .

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1897 - 1905: The Platonic Debating Society was founded by students of the Florida Seminary West of the Suwanne River on December 17th, 1897. As such, it was the first iteration of the over 120 year history of academic debate at Florida State University.

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Public debates were open to the public and often held in Munro's Opera House, the site of the first intercollegiate debate in the state of Florida.

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Public debates were often held in Munro's Opera House to accommodate crowds of 300 or more.

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CATALOGUE 1901-1902. FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE Florida State College, (FORMERLY THE WEST FLORIDA SEMINARY.) Announcement Forty-sixth Annual Session 1902-1903. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. 73.

CATALOGUE 1897-’98 FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL SESSION of the STATE SEMINARY, WEST OF THE SUWANNEE. The Florida State Classical and Literary College. ANNOUNCEMENT 1898-’99. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. 48.

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CATALOGUE 1897-’98 FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL SESSION of the STATE SEMINARY, WEST OF THE SUWANNEE. The Florida State Classical and Literary College. ANNOUNCEMENT 1898-’99. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.

1899 June 5, Monday, {Murphrean Literary Society Entertainment and public debate by members of Platonic Debating Society.

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CATALOGUE 1898-1899. FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL SESSION OF THE State Seminary, WEST OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER. THE FLORIDA STATE CLASSICAL AND LITERARY COLLEGE. Announcement 1899-1900. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. 51.

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CATALOGUE 1898-1899. FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL SESSION OF THE State Seminary, WEST OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER. THE FLORIDA STATE CLASSICAL AND LITERARY COLLEGE. Announcement 1899-1900. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. 45.

"VI. Col. Jno. S. Winthrop gives a medal to the best all-round debater of the Platonic Debating Society, the merit of the contestants is determined by public debate at Commencement."

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CALENDAR

“1900 June 4, Monday {Murphreean Literary Society entertainment; public debate by members of the Platonic Debating Society, and Annual Address before the societies.”

CATALOGUE 1898-1899. FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL SESSION OF THE State Seminary, WEST OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER. THE FLORIDA STATE CLASSICAL AND LITERARY COLLEGE. Announcement 1899-1900. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.

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Catalogue 1899 - 1900 Forty-Third Annual Session of the State Seminary West of the Suwannee River. The Florida State Classical and Literary College, p. 51.

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Catalogue 1899 - 1900 Forty-Third Annual Session of the State Seminary West of the Suwannee River. The Florida State Classical and Literary College, p. 52.

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“VI. Col. John S. Winthrop gives a medal to the best, all-round debater of the Platonic Debating Society; the merit of the contestants is determined by the public debate at Commencement.”

Catalogue 1899 - 1900 Forty-Third Annual Session of the State Seminary West of the Suwannee River. The Florida State Classical and Literary College, p. 48.

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CALENDAR

“1901 June 3, Monday { Public debate by members of the Platonic Debating Society, and Annual Address before the society.”

Catalogue 1899 - 1900 Forty-Third Annual Session of the State Seminary West of the Suwannee River. The Florida State Classical and Literary College, p. 4.

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CATALOGUE 1900-1901. FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE Florida State College, (FORMERLY THE WEST FLORIDA SEMINARY.) Announcement Forty-fifth Annual Session 1901-1902. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. 80.

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CATALOGUE 1900-1901. FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE Florida State College, (FORMERLY THE WEST FLORIDA SEMINARY.) Announcement Forty-fifth Annual Session 1901-1902. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. 81.

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The Argo, v. 1. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Seminary West of the Suwannee, 1900-1901, p. 65.

In 1900, a group of members split off from the Platonic Debating Society to form the Anaxagorean Literary Society.

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The Argo, v. 1. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Seminary West of the Suwannee, 1900-1901, p. 66.

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CALENDAR

1902. JUNE 2, Monday, { Public debate and contest for Wnthrop Medal. Annual address before the society. 3, Tuesday { Public debate and contest for W.B. Crawford Medal by members of Anaxagorean Literary Soceity.

The Argo, v. 2. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1901-1902, p. 9.

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The Argo, v. 2. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1901-1902, p. .

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Description of the Fourth Annual Commencement Debate of the Platonic Debating Society.

The Argo, v. 2. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1901-1902, p. .

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The Argo, v. 2. 3 vols. Tallahassee, Fla: Florida State College, 1901-1902, p. .

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1903.
June 1, Monday, { Public debate and contest for Winthrop Medal. Annual address before the society.
June 2, Tuesday {Public debate and contest for Society Medal by members of Anaxagorean Literary Societry.

CATALOGUE 1901-1902. FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE Florida State College, (FORMERLY THE WEST FLORIDA SEMINARY.) Announcement Forty-sixth Annual Session 1902-1903. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, p. .

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