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Conference Room Dedicated to “Griff” Copeland

Florida College paid special tribute to L. Griffin “Griff” Copeland, the devoted librarian and longtime friend of the College, on Friday, March 27. A conference room in the Chatlos Library was given his name, and Copeland received a book of tributes submitted by faculty and administration.

Copeland, who was born in Dasher, Ga., joined Florida (Christian) College at its inception in 1946, and worked at FC until he retired in 1985. He continued to help out in the library until 2005.

He worked for the school longer than any other person.

Copeland was a part of the library from the very beginning, when it was only 2,000 donated volumes residing in the east wing of Sutton Hall. He labored to prepare the library for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools when FC was first accredited in 1954.

Dr. Norene Thayer ’63 recalls how Copeland “ran the dilapidated old Donoho Library in the Sutton wing as if it were the Library of Congress.”

Copeland with his wife, Gretchen, of 63 years. Mrs. Copeland, who organized a school library herself, was Griff’s loyal companion since the nascency of Florida College.

One of Copeland’s many accomplishments was the development of the Florida College archives.

“Florida College has never had a finer and more dedicated servant,” said Dr. James “Jimmy” Jones ’62.

The L. Griffin Copeland Conference Room is part of the original Chatlos Library building, which was dedicated in 1968 with Copeland in attendance. It is a fitting honor for this humble pillar of Florida College.