Deborah Thomas Collection--Over 2600 images of people, sports, politics, events, and businesses in the Tallahassee area from 1983 to1989.

Collection Number: M98-4
Creator: Deborah Thomas
Title: Photographic negatives taken for publication in Florida Flambeau newspaper, 1983-1989.
Quantity: Two cubic feet; 10,000 photographic negatives
The 2,600 prints on this website represent a selection from the Deborah Thomas Collection. The entire collection can be viewed onsite at the State Archives of Florida.

Description: Description: This collection consists of an estimated 10,000 black and white negatives taken by photographer Deborah Thomas for use by the student-run Florida Flambeau, once associated with Florida State University (FSU). The negatives consist of images of both FSU events and of the Tallahassee area, especially local and state government matters. Topics include student protests of the death penalty, apartheid, and tuition hikes; city and county commission meetings; local, state, and presidential elections; local business; parades; fashion shows; and various speakers and other events. There are also images of sporting events at FSU and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), including football, basketball, baseball, rugby, tennis, track and field, softball, and swimming.

Historical Note: Deborah Thomas was an independent Tallahassee photographer who sold images for publication to the independent Florida Flambeau newspaper, which was once associated with Florida State University (FSU). The newspaper began on 23 January 1915 as the official student newspaper for FSU’s precursor Florida State College for Women, with Ruby Leach as its editor. It remained the student newspaper until 1972 when its budget was stripped. It shifted to an independent newspaper for twenty years. In 1992, several students complained about perceived bias in the papers reporting, and formed the FSView, the new FSU student newspaper. In January 1998, the Florida Flambeau folded for financial reasons, and six months later its name was purchased by FSU. Since then, the student newspaper has been known as the FSView & Florida Flambeau.