FAMU Logo (Florida A&M University Logo) PNG
The logo of Florida A&M University is a link that connects the entire educational community, including teachers, students, and alumni. It signifies their affiliation with one educational organization. As part of the FAMU brand, the emblem is important in promoting the university and symbolizes pride.
Florida A&M University began under segregation, when Thomas Van Rensselaer Gibbs, a Duval County educator and legislator elected in 1884, pushed for a normal school for Black students. On October 3, 1887, State Normal College for Colored Students opened in Tallahassee with 15 students, two teachers, President Thomas DeSaille Tucker, and Gibbs. In 1891, it moved to the former Highwood plantation site. It received $7,500 under the Second Morrill Act, gaining land-grant status for Black Floridians.
In 1905, the Buckman Act made the college an official higher-education institution, while the University of Florida and Florida State University remained closed to Black applicants for decades. The school was renamed Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes in 1909. Under Nathan Young and John Robert Edward Lee, it grew into a four-year college, added bachelor’s programs, and expanded its campus.
By 1949, enrollment had reached 2,000, and the college opened law and health programs. Its hospital later became the only medical facility near Tallahassee serving Black patients until 1971. In 1953, the institution became Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Pharmacy, nursing and graduate programs followed as enrollment passed 3,500.
FAMU students helped drive the Tallahassee bus boycott after Wilhelmina Jakes and Carrie Patterson were arrested on May 26, 1956. CORE activists Priscilla and Patricia Stephens Due led further protests from 1959 to 1964. In 1971, FAMU joined Florida’s state university system; in 1982 it opened a joint engineering college with FSU. In the 1990s, it surpassed Harvard, Yale, and Stanford in National Merit enrollment, and its law school reopened in Orlando in 2002.
Meaning and History
Florida A&M University, like other American educational institutions, has its system of visual symbols. At its core are the brand colors: green and orange. They ensure the design’s integrity, which is important for a university that manages many colleges and schools. FAMU’s logos and seal demonstrate its uniqueness and diversity. They connect the entire university community, allowing its members to feel like a part of a friendly collective. The appealing brand helps the university attract new students and potential investors to expand educational programs.
What is Florida A&M University?
Florida A&M University is a higher education institution established in 1887 specifically for African Americans. Its main campus is in Tallahassee, with additional locations across Florida. FAMU provides accessible, high-quality education and conducts research in various scientific fields. The university has its own sports team, known as the Rattlers, participating in NCAA Division I.
1987 – today
The logo of Florida A&M University reflects its identity and connection to history. The design centers on the university’s name in two colors and fonts. Large green letters “A” and “M” are positioned at the center with an orange ampersand between them. The word “Florida” appears in black to the left, while the word “University” is displayed to the right. An additional element consists of two thin green lines extending from the “A” and “M” in both directions, integrating the text into a cohesive composition.
Orange is associated with Florida’s citrus industry, one of the state’s key economic sectors. Green represents fertile soil and the university’s agricultural roots, reflecting its historical support for agrarian education.
FAMU collaborates closely with Florida State University (FSU) through their joint College of Engineering. A separate emblem was created for this institution, incorporating symbols from both universities. At the center of the composition is an image of a flame, representing FAMU’s “eternal flame” and FSU’s three torches. This emblem highlights the partnership between the institutions and their commitment to advancing science and education.
The Seal
The university is very strict about the use of its seal, so it cannot be depicted in advertising materials. It adorns the university’s official documents, including graduates’ diplomas, and is sometimes found on business cards and official letterheads.
A dark green triangular shield is in the central circle with two inverted arches at the top. It is divided into four parts by a white cross, inside which the founding year of the educational institution, 1887, is indicated. Above the shield is the orange word “HEAD”; below it, “FIELD”; to the right, “HAND”; to the left, “HEART.” These are the core values of FAMU, which educates students in science and physical labor. Beyond the green circle are depicted:
- A hand holding a torch (a symbol of enlightenment);
- A plow (hinting at the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences);
- A mechanical gear (referring to the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology);
- An open book (embodying accessible knowledge).
Each drawing is positioned opposite one of the words, corresponding to its meaning. The name of the educational institution occupies the space between the pictograms without the conjunction: “FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY.” The outer contour of the seal is decorated with numerous sharp protrusions, resembling the sun or a gear.
FAMU Emblem
According to the university’s standards, this emblem is its official logo. It consists of two parts with different designs.
- A large green rectangle on the left contains the white letters “FAMU.”
- On the right is the university’s full name. It is divided into four lines and is in bold font, except for the conjunction “AND,” which consists of thin glyphs. The text is placed inside tall orange square brackets.
This design balances the two halves of the logo, one of which appears visually heavy and the other empty.
Font and Colors
Florida A&M University’s typography features various font styles. For instance, the text mark is designed in a contrasting serif font with thin serifs. On the other hand, the rectangle logo contains inscriptions in bold grotesque. A similar font, but with more elongated glyphs, is used in the circular seal. This demonstrates the university’s rich diversity.
Across FAMU’s visual symbols, its official colors are orange (#EE7624) and green (#1B5633). The first is associated with Florida’s developed citrus industry, and the second is associated with agricultural plants.