The Florida State University Libraries is now home to the James and Betty Lou Joanos Collection, one of the most comprehensive personal records documenting the university’s evolution.
Donated by Betty Lou in honor of her late husband, the Honorable James E. Joanos, the collection offers a window into FSU’s history.
“The Joanos Collection is more than a set of memorabilia; it is a historical map of how Florida State evolved over seven decades,” said Carrie Cooper, dean of FSU Libraries. “By bringing these materials into our archives, we preserve our institutional history and the memory of a couple whose lives have touched generations of alumni at Florida State University.”
Known across campus as “Mr. and Mrs. FSU,” James and Betty Lou Joanos defined their lives through their relationship with the university. Their story is one of a lifelong partnership rooted in Tallahassee, beginning with a first date during the Homecoming weekend as FSU students over 70 years ago.
FSU Libraries figures prominently in their love story; it was in the original library in Dodd Hall — known today as the Werkmeister Reading Room — that James asked Betty Lou for that Homecoming date, which lasted the rest of their lives.
The two were involved in campus life. James was involved with student government and served as freshman class president, continued as a senator during his sophomore and junior years and was student body vice president as a senior. He was also the sports editor of the Florida Flambeau, a member of the track team and president of Sigma Chi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Interfraternity Council, Student Senate and the Interfaith Council.
James’ connection to FSU athletics began long before his time as a student. In 1947, at just 14 years old, he attended FSU’s inaugural football game against Stetson University, a milestone that took place just one month before the university adopted the use of the Seminole name and symbols.
Betty Lou was a member of the circus, Village Vamps, Pi Beta Phi, Garnet Key and Sophomore Council. She was also a Junior Counselor, Queen of Freshman Carnival, a member of Junior-Senior Prom Court, the sweetheart of Sigma Chi and chosen for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
After marrying in 1957, James served in the Air Force until 1959 before graduating from Yale Law School in 1962. During his legal career, he served as a judge of the Leon County Felony Court of Record from 1971 to 1973, a circuit judge of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida from 1973 to 1980 and a judge of the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal from 1980 to 2001. James was also part of a team of four individuals which founded the College of Law where he served as an adjunct professor from 1978 to 2001.
He was well-regarded as an FSU Athletics historian, writing news articles for The Seminole Boosters, The Tallahassee Democrat and Wakulla Times.
Betty Lou taught home economics in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Tallahassee before joining the former FSU College of Home Economics. She later served with the FSU Foundation and as chair of the board and associate director of the FSU Alumni Association.
While working full-time, she received her master’s in Home Economic Education from Florida A&M University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from FSU in 1985. She was also president of both the Emeriti Alumni Society and the Association of Retired Faculty. In 1991, the couple served as Homecoming Parade Grand Marshals and was later awarded the FSU Faculty Senate’s Mores Award. Today, Betty Lou remains engaged in campus life and serves as a member of the FSU Libraries Heritage Museum Development Council and the FSU Faculty Senate.
James and Betty Lou were active members of Seminole Boosters for years, regularly attending games with their family. Their dedication extends far beyond Tallahassee, as they frequently traveled across the country to support the Seminoles at away games. They were the first couple to be inducted into FSU’s Sports Hall of Fame, receiving the Moore-Stone Award for their devotion to the university and their support of FSU athletics.
James and Betty Lou share a legacy of service as the only couple to have each served as Chairman of the Board of the FSU Alumni Association. Their lifelong commitment is reflected in their shared honors, including the Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold and the prestigious Bernard F. Sliger Award.
The Joanos collection is the result of an accumulation process that began in 1947, featuring over 600 items. Over the next 75 years, the couple amassed a variety of artifacts that offer a granular look at both university life and their own relationship.
“James and Betty Lou made FSU their home and welcomed generations of students into that legacy,” said Katie McCormick, associate dean of FSU Libraries. “This collection allows us to tell a balanced story of leadership, reflecting their deep commitment to both the university’s academic excellence and its storied traditions.”
Driven by a passion for FSU Athletics that began in his youth, James, alongside his wife, Betty Lou, became a fixture at nearly every Seminole sporting event. Widely recognized within FSU athletics circles as a “super fan,” and consistently collected and accumulated FSU athletics merchandise and memorabilia throughout the decades.
James and Betty Lou’s condo near Doak Campbell Stadium once served as a museum of Florida State history. Before Betty Lou’s generous donation, the collection featured everything from a complete set of Booster car tags collected by James since they were first issued in 1954 to iconic memorabilia autographed by major figures in FSU athletics history.
Combined with intimate personal artifacts, the collection documents the pair’s lives alongside the evolving history of FSU. The collection features pictures of Florida State College in 1901 and 1902, memorabilia from the Florida State College for Women era, as well as FSU books, plaques, pendants, photographs and autographs of hundreds of FSU dignitaries.
One such item is Betty Lou’s wedding scrapbook, including photos of the bride and groom, guest lists and even a list of honeymoon destinations.
When the two were married in Quincy, Florida, the celebration was so impactful in the FSU community that it coincided with another major campus event: the retirement gala for Doak Campbell, the president who navigated the school’s transition from the Florida State College for Women to Florida State University.
The Joanos are parents of three children: Julia Joanos Crump, Janet Joanos Pung and James “Jamie” Joanos Jr. all of whom graduated from Florida State University’s Florida State University Schools and FSU. They have seven grandchildren, four of whom are FSU graduates, and five great-grandchildren.
The James and Betty Lou Joanos Collection will be accessible in Special Collections and Archives, and available for researchers and future generations curious about Florida State’s history and the evolution of higher education in the South during the 20th century.
For more information about FSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, visit lib.fsu.edu.