Picture Ludd Spivey and John Ringling agreeing in 1931 to found this school, known today as RCAD, beside the Ringling Art Museum. Imagine the ambition behind it: Ludd M. Spivey, then President of Southern College (now called Florida Southern College), envisioned a partnership with John Ringling, but Spivey learned Ringling had little interest in helping Southern College and was almost broke. Instead, Ringling wanted to start his own art school on the grounds of his museum.
The two men discussed creating a new institution, and they agreed to open a school in Sarasota as a branch of Florida Southern College. That agreement led to the founding of the School of Fine and Applied Art of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum on March 31, 1931. The school opened its doors on October 2 with 75 registered students and initially functioned as a junior college offering business and arts classes.
The institution later broke off from Southern College in 1933, continuing its independent life here. Notice the museum that gave this school its name, and picture 75 students opening term here on October 2, 1931.