175 years, Centenary College, 1825-2000: a brief history of Centenary College of Louisiana

28 Pages·2000·3.5 MB·English

by  Sloane, Bentley

175
A Brief Historyof
Centenary College
CENTENARY
of Louisiana
COLLEGE
1825 ok. 2000
u_<///j wtule//ctwoso /(</t<raaUo^nedj
-Wesley
•^r. -a;
.
Presidents
College oi; Louisiana
I\i kson. Louisiana- 1825-1845
1. Reverend Jeremiah Chamberlain 1826-1828
2. Lieutenant H.H.Gird 1829-1834
3. Reverend JamesShannon 1834-1840
4. Reverend William D. Laeey 1840-1843
Centenary College
Clinton, Mississippi- 1841
Brandon Springs, Mississippi- 1841-1845
5. T.C.Thornton 1841-1844
6. WilliamWinans(Pro-tcm) 1844-1845
Centenary College of Louisiana
Jackson, Louisiana— 1846-1907
7. Judge D. O.Shamiek 1846-1848
8. fudgeA. R. Longstreet 1848-1849
9. Reverend H. H. Rivers 1849-1854
10. Dr. HenryC.Thweatt 1854
11. Dr. JohnC. Miller 1855-1865
12. W. H.Watkins 1866-1870
13. Dr.CharlesG.Andrews 1870-1882
14. Dr. D.M. Rush 1883-1885
15. Dr.TA.S.Adams 1885-1887
16. Dr.GeorgeH.Wiley(Pro-tern) 1887-1888
17. ReverendW. L. C. Hunnieutt 1888-1894
18. Dr.C.W.Carter 1874-1898
19. Dr. I.W.Cooper 1898-1902
20. Dr. Henry BeachCarre 1902-1903
21. ReverendC. C.Miller 1903-1906
Centenary College of Louisiana
SHREVErORT, LOUISIANA- 1908-
22. William LanderWeber 1908-1910
23. Dr. FelixR. Hill 1910-1913
24. Dr. RobertH.Wynn 1913-1918
25. R.W. Bourne 1919-1920
26. Dr. R. E. Smith (Pro-tern) 1920-1921
27. Dr. GeorgeS.Sexton 1921-1932
28. Dr.W.AngieSmith(Pro-tern) 1932-1933
29. Dr. PierceCline 1933-1943
30. Dr.JoeJ.Mickle 1945-1964
31. Dr. JackS.Wilkes 1964-1969
32. Dr. John H.Allen 1969-1976
33. Dr. DonaldA. Webb 1977-1991
34 Dr. Kenneth L. Schwab 1991-
TheoriginalbrochurecontainingabriefpictorialhistoryofCentenaryCollegeofLouisianawaspreparedbyDr.WalterLowreyoftheDepartmentof
HistoryforthesesquicentennialcelebrationofCentenaryCollegein 1975.Thepresentbrochure,preparedbyDr.BentleySloane,TrusteeHistorian,
forCentenary's 175thanniversaryintheyear2000,isbasedontheworkofDr.Lowrey.
One Hundred Seventy-Five Years of Excellence
HPT*' :''
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TheabovepictureofthecampusofCentenaryCollegeofLouisianainJacksonfeaturesthegreatCenterBuildingthatwaserectedin 1857afterthe
MethodistsoftheMississippi-LouisianaConferencepurchasedthepropertyoftheCollegeofLouisianain 1845.
CentenaryCollegeofLouisianaistheproduct Whereas the independence, happinessandgrandeur
oftheconfluenceoftwostreamsofhistoryat ofeveryrepublic, dependundertheinfluenceof
Jackson, Louisiana in 1845, onestateandthe DivineProvidence, upon thewisdom, virtue, talents
otherchurch. Soon afterthepurchaseofthe andenergiesofitscitizensandrulers;Andwhereas
LouisianaTerritoryfrom FrancebytheUnitedStates learninghasbeenfoundtheablestadvocateofgen-
in 1803,thesouthernportionwasdeclaredtobethe uine liberty, thebestsupporterofrationalreligion,
"TerritoryofOrleans"withNewOrleansthecapital and thesourceoftheonlysolidand imperishable
andprincipalcity. In 1804, PresidentJeffersonnamed glorywhichnationscanacquire, Thereforebeit
WilliamC.C. ClaiborneasGovernoroftheOrleans enactedbytheGovernoroftheTerritoryof
Territory,which includedthepresentStateof Orleans, Thatan University[latertobedesignated
Louisiana. Hisfirstprioritywastoestablishasystem as "College"]be, and ishereby, institutedwithin
ofpubliceducationfortheterritory,sinceFranceand thisTerritory.
Spain, thepreviousowners, hadauthorized the
RomanCatholicChurchtobethesolesponsorof However,thisattempttoestablishapermanent
whatlittleformaleducationtherewas intheTerritory. collegefailed in 1824. In 1825 anotherattemptwas
Therefore, in 1805, ClaibornefoundedtheCollegeof made inJackson, Louisiana, thatwouldappealto
Orleansandasystemofparish(county)libraries.The morestudentsstatewide,sinceJacksonwasonlyafew
preambleofthislegislationexpressesfullyhisphiloso- milesfromtheMississippiRiver. Itwasnamed the
phyofeducationatalllevels: CollegeofLouisiana.
simplycould not hemetby
anysizablenumberoj
FELICIANA COU Louisianians, and the
Collegehad toprepare Us
ActorLeqMatu ownfreshmanclass.
Public town ^~- Discouragedbytheappar-
entfailureojtheCollege
despilewhatitconsidered
generousslateappropriations,
theLegislatureinAct 74,
1845,authorizedtheclosing
oftheinstitution, thepublic
auctionofitsproperties,and
theannullingofitscharter.
Abouttheonlypermanent
legacyofthestateyearswasa
beautifulbrickbuilding
whichstillstandstoday.
TheoldFelicianaCourthousewasthefirstheadquartersoftheCollege Thefirstpresidentofthenewcollegewasthe
ofLouisianain 1825. ReverendJ.C.Chamherlin, aPresbyterianminister
fromCentreCollegeinKentucky. Hewasrequiredto
College of Louisiana, teachjuniorsandseniorsinthecollegedepartment,so
1825 1845 hewasconsideredamemberofthefaculty. Other
*
facultymembersin 1826werePeterDubaille,Greek
ThelateDr.WalterLowrey,ProfessorofHistoryat andLatin; DiegoMorphy, FrenchandSpanish; anda
Centenaryfrom 1963-1980,providesasummaryofthe Mr. LaneofOuachita,TutorandPrincipalofthe
historyoftheCollegeofLouisiana: PreparatoryDepartment,whichusuallyhadalarger
TheBoard[ofTrustees]atJacksononMay2, enrollmentthantheregularcollege.
1825,fellheirtothe FelicianaParishCourthouse, In 1829ThomasRussellIngallswasaddedtothefac-
nolongerneededforgovernmentalpurposes, ultyasProfessorofChemistryandNaturalHistory,and
rentedbuildingsforstudenthousingtosupplement theReverendJamesRonaldsonwasnamedChaplain.
thecourthousespace,andhiredapresidentanda In 1836WilliamCarpenter,M.D.,wasaddedtothe
faculty. TheCollegesoonconstructedseveral facultyas ProfessorofChemistry, Geology,and
framebuildings toreplacetheunsuitable Natural History. Dr. Carpenterresignedtojointhe
courthousequarters, andlatermovedtoa facultyofTulaneUniversityin
permanentcampusnearby. 1843 andhadadistinguished
Wranglingamongthefaculty, disputesbetween careerasamedicaldoctorin
BoardandPresident, adearthofstudents, NewOrleans.
misapplicationoffunds, andinconsistentstate
policieskepttheCollegeinturmoilduringthe Dr.WilliamMarburyCarpenterattended
twentyyearsitoperatedasastateinstitution. theCollegeofLouisiana,wasprofessor
Nomorethan80studentseverenrolledatone ofnaturalhistorytherefrom 1837to
time,andmostofthesewerepreparatorystudents. 1843,andlaterprofessorofmateria
Therigorousacademicrequirementsforentrance medicaattheUniversityofLouisiana.
Student Organizations
Thefirsttwo majorstudentorganizationson the
CollegeofLouisianacampusappeared in the 1840sas
twoliterarysocieties.TheUnion LiterarySocietywas
organized in 1842, and the Franklin Institute in 1843.
Theirmainfunctionwasto provideexperiencein
oratoryanddebate,social lifeand rivalry(between the
two). Each had itsown room and library in thegreat
CenterBuilding.Atcommencementtimeeach had a
specialdaywithprominentspeakersandspecial
programs.The intenserivalrybetweenthetwo in
debateandoratorypredated intra-muralathletic
teams. Legendsuggeststhat, duringtheCivilWar
when theFederalForcescapturedJackson,theyleft
undamagedtheroomottheUnion LiterarySociety
becauseofthelarge "Union"signabove thedoor.
In 1859,GreekLetterFraternitiesarrived on
campus,buttheTrusteesottheCollegedid not
encouragethem becauseottheirrivalrywith the
established LiterarySocieties.WhenCentenary Tuestfay, fiflay 31st, 1887.
Collegeot Louisiana moved toShreveport, fraternities
andsororitieswereorganized in the 1920sand
continuetoday.
I^Msy m
i j «*
i .
TheFranklinInstitutedebatersof1882.Standing,C.C.Miller(later
PresidentofCentenary),andCharlesMcDonald.Seated,B.J.Jonesand TheUnionLiterarySocietydebatersof 1882.Standing,S.J. Daviesand
R.H.McGimsey. M.A. Bell.Seated,JamesH. ForeandC.F.Smith.
3~
Methodism Celebrates th the rudimentsof education and also
Its Centennial to provide theSocietieswithsimple
libraries. Hewasresponsiblefor
In 1839 the Mississippi
^71 publications, including 50
Conferenceoi the Methodist volumesofaChristian library,
EpiscopalChurch,which included
and commentarieson theBible
the Stateoi 1ouisiana, joined for his laypreachersand their
otlu-r MethodistConferences in Societies. In 1739 hetookover
America in celebratingthe the KingswoodSchool founded
centennial ofMethodism. The
byGeorgeWhitefield and
ReverendJohnWesley, anOxford developed acollegewith much of
Universitygraduateand priest in the thecurriculumselectedorwritten
Church of England, had aspiritual awak- byhimself. Ontheoccasionofits
ening in 1738whileattendinga meetingoi openingceremony,hisbrotherCharles
laymen in oneofthe numerousAnglican jQunWesley wroteaspecialhymncontainingthefamous
Societies in LondondesignedforBiblestudyand linesthatbecameMethodism'sbasicphilosophy
prayer. On thatoccasion he"felthisheartstrangely ofeducation: "Letusunitetrietwosolongdisjoined,
warmed" and hispreachingassumedanewdimension knowledgeandvitalpiety."
ofspiritualenthusiasm, notaltogetherapprovedbythe
AnglicanBishops. In 1739hejoinedtheReverend
GeorgeWhitefield, anotherclergyfriendfrom his American Methodists
Oxforddays, and began topreachtothepoor, unedu- Organize a Church
cated andunchurched masses inoutdoorsettings
throughoutEnglandand Ireland.Theresponsewas ManyoftheMethodistsfrom Englandand Ireland
spectacular. Sincethenewconvertswerenotprepared settledinAmericainthelatterpartofthe 18th
tormembership in theChurchofEngland,John Centuryandwiththeirlocalpreacherstheydeveloped
WesleyorganizedthemintoMethodistSocietiesfor MethodistSocietiesalongtheeasternseaboard.
Biblestudyandprayer.Wesleyadoptedthename Wesleysentseveralofhisbestlaypreacherstohelp
"Methodist,"whichhelearnedwhileinOxford themincludingFrancisAsburywhobecamethegeneral
University. Heandagroupofstudentshadorganized superintendentofAmericanMethodism.Afterthe
themselvesintoawellorderedgroupforBiblestudy, RevolutionaryWar,theMethodistSocietiesgrewrapidly,
prayer,churchattendance,andsocialservicestothe and in 1784theMethodistpreachersorganizedan
poorofthecommunity. Otherstudentsdubbedthem AmericanMethodistEpiscopalChurch.BecauseJohn
"Methodists"becauseoftheirmethodicalwayofliving WesleyneverintendedfortheMethodistSocietiesto
andserving. HisyoungerbrotherCharleswasaleader leavetheChurchofEngland, heobjectedtothismove
in thegroup. HelaterjoinedJohninhisevangelistic oftheAmericanMethodists. However,theAmerican
campaignsandbecamethehymnwriterforthe Methodistsfollowedhisguidelinesinmattersof
Methodistmovement. theology, organizationandtheSundayservices.
UndertheleadershipofFrancisAsbury,whowas
electedasBishop,theMethodistSocietiesmoved
John Wesley as an Educator southandwest, andcontinuedtogrowinmember-
JohnWesleywasnotonlyasuccessfulevangelistic ship.Theyorganizednewconferencesanddistricts
preacher,hewasalsoaneducatorofthefirstorder. throughoutthenation. In 1799TobiasGibson, a
AsheselectedlaymentopresideovertheMethodist missionarycircuitriderwassenttotheNatchezarea
Societies, itwasnecessaryforhimtoprovidethem wherehedevelopedseveralcircuitsofMethodist
~4<
(Lefttoright) ReverendBenjaminM. Drake,JudgeEdwardMcGehee,andWilliamWinanswerekeyfigures
inthefoundingofCentenaryCollegeintheMethodistMississippiConferenceandinitssubsequenthistory.
Societies. In 1813 theGeneralConferenceofthe and consistedofChairmanJohn Lane, B.M. Drake,
MethodistEpiscopalChurchorganizedaMississippi PrestonCooper, H.H.Johnson, I.M. Taylor, Thomas
Conferencewith Louisianaasadistrictin that Gwen,W.H.N. Magruder,John Ford, C.K. Marshall,
Conference. CM. Rogers,James P.Thomas, and D.S. Goodloe.
In 1818theMississippi Conferencefoundeda ThefirstfacultyofCentenaryCollegeconsistedof
femaleacademy.Thebuildingsand "roundswere PresidentT.C.Thornton, aclergyman; Professorof
donatedbyMissElizabeth Roachand thenewinstitu- MathematicsJ.B. Dodd; ProfessorofAncient
tionwasnamedElizabethFemaleAcademy.This Languages H. Futwiller; ProfessorofModern
inspiredagroupofpastorstoattempttoorganizea LanguagesW.H.N. Magruder; ProfessorofNatural
fullcollegeformen. LedbyB.M. Drake,William ScienceJamesB.Thornton;Steward oftheCollege
WinansandJohn Lane, thisgrouppersuadedthe Gabriel Felcler; and Superintendentofthe Preparatory
ConferencetoorganizeaCentenaryCollege in 1839 DepartmentHolden Dwight.
as itswayofcelebratingthecentennialofMethodism. WhentheCollegeopened inBrandonSprings, the
BoardofTrustees, inaburstofoptimismforthe
Centenary College future, organized alawschooland aschool ofmedi-
cinewith onefacultymembereach: D. O. Shattuck in
Organized in 1839 law, andJ.B.C.Thornton in medicine. Eachwas
CentenaryCollegewasfounded in 1839 inClinton, allowedtopracticehis profession in addition to his
Mississippiwhere itoccupied thebuildingsofa dutiesasfacultymember. However, afterfouryearsof
defunctMississippiCollege. However, thestatefailed operation and only 12 graduates,CentenaryCollege
totransferMississippiCollege'schartertoCentenary, wasreadytoseeka morefavorablelocation.The
sotheConferencemovedCentenarytoBrandon Mississippi Conference in 1845 then decided to
Springsafterpurchasingthelandandbuildingsofa purchasethepropertyoftheCollegeofLouisianaat
failed "WateringPlace."Thefirst BoardofTrusteesfor Jackson, which was forsale. Jackson was only a
thenewcollegewaselected bytheConference in 1840, shortdistancefromthesouthernborderof
,5_
Mississippi, and at the time and BoardofVisitors. By
Louisiana was pan oi the L850,therewereover250
Mississippi Conference. studentsand 15graduates.
|udge E, 1 . McGehee, a In L852, a professorof
prominenl layman from music,whowastodevelopa
Woodville, Mississippi,was band and choralgroups in
dispatched toJackson,where thecollegeand theJackson
he negotiated the purchaseoi community,wasadded to
theCollegeofLouisiana's the faculty.
land and buildings for
$10,000,with a down Faculty As
paymentof$166.66. No
Disciplinary
subsequentpaymentwasever
Body
made, and a tewyearslater Photographofthelostcornerstone
thestateoiLouisiana Thefacultymetatleast
canceledthedebt.Thetwomergedcollegesthen took onceaweekandmuchofthe
the nameof"CentenaryCollegeofLouisiana." timewasspentinpenalizingstudentsforinfractionsof
thecollegerulesandregulations.Thefollowingsuch
Early Leadership infractionwasrecordedintheminutesof1854: "Mr.
InadditiontoJudgeE.L.McGehee,twoother JohnKellerwasreportedforgettingdrunk andmolest-
MethodistnamesareprominentinCentenary'searly ingcitizensofJacksonandusingindecentlanguage."
history.Benjamin Drake,whoforseveralyearspressed These infractionsbystudentsfromyeartoyear
theConferencetoorganizeafullfour-yearcollege,is includedfighting, strikingfacultymembers,stealing
generallyregardedasthefounderofCentenaryCollege. thecollegebellandplacingitinacistern, painting
HeservedonthefirstBoardofTrusteesoftheCollege facultyhorses, throwinghardbiscuitsinthedining
andhisdescendantshavebeenactiveleadersinthe room, andputtingthe President'sbuggyinthecreek
affairsofthecollege. (onenightwithhiminit!). Manyofthese infractions,
TheReverendWilliamWinanswaschairmanofthe though, especiallybytheAcademystudents,were
CentenaryCollegeBoardofTrusteesformanyyears regardedaspranksandescapadesofstudentsaway
andforoneyearservedaspresidentprotern. Hewas fromhomewithlittleopportunityforrecreationand
oneoftheMethodists' outstandingpreachersfora sociallife.
longperiodinthe 1800s. A Full Week of
Centenary College of Graduation Exercises
Louisiana, 18454861 Duringthehalcyondaysofthe 1850spriortothe
Themergerofthetwocollegesprovedtobepropi- CivilWar,CentenaryCollegeofLouisianabrought
tiousandaftertheelectionoftheReverend R.H. excitementandthousandsofvisitorstothetownof
Rivers in 1849aspresident, CentenaryCollegeof Jacksoneachyearduringcommencement,which
Louisianaenteredaperiodofgrowthandprosperity. coveredafullweek. CrowdsfrombothLouisianaand
Inadditiontothepresident, therewerefivefull-time Mississippiusuallyincludedbothgovernors.Speeches
facultymembers, aprincipalofthePreparatory weredelivereddayandnightbyvisitingdignitaries,
Department, andtwotutors.Thepresident'ssalary interspersedbymusicfromthecollegebandand
was$2500, andthefaculty'ssalariesaveraged$1500. orchestraaswellasaladieschorusfromJackson.The
WilliamWinanswaschairmanoftheBoardofTrustees twoliterarysocietieshadspecialdaysfortheirvarious
presentations. In 1852, CharlesGayarre, thefamous "Itwasan imposingbuilding60by 90feetcostmg
politician and historian, receivedan honoraryMaster': $60,000. Inaddition to the largechapel marked
Decree, and his impromptu response lasted one hour. offby tworowsoj interiorcolumns ithas two
Arecordwassetin 1854byProfessorJ.C. Miller, large Literary Halls, a chapelforprayer, eight
whosebaccalaureateaddresslastedsixhours! Allof commodious Recitation Rooms, one Library Room,
theseeventseachyeargavewidepublicityto aCabinet Room, separateroomsforchemicaland
CentenaryCollegeofLouisiana. philosophicalapparatus, anofficeandotherrooms
forotherpurposes. Inmagnitudeandarchitectural
Great Center Building, 1857 beauty it isa monumenttoSouthern liberality
In 1857 thetrusteeserectedthegreatCenter andSouthern taste."
Buildingwith anauditoriumseatingtwothousand TheCivilWarin 1861 broughtatemporaryhaltto
and containingroomsforafull program ofactivities. theprosperityandgrowthofCentenaryCollegeoi
The 1859collegecataloguegivesthisdescription of Louisiana. On October7, 1861, thefacultymet.The
thebuilding: lastpageofthe minutes hadthisentrybysecretary
order of i:\kiu m>. V 0RDEB OF EXERCISES.
- £
T %L A Y £ R , I) >S h<
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RgPeBUCAXtitM i'kIinam,t* u, fc it 8KALLSLAVES.
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trn.i~r.~rcv;.r7fit;::rrrj:;.ir>>f1.1.;•
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Y
ThisprogramfortheCommencementexerdsesonJuly30, 1856,istypicaloftheceremoniesatJackson.TheCollegeband,orchestraandchorusinter-
spersedoccasionalnumberstobreakthelengthyparadeofaddresses.Thecrowdswildlyapplaudedtheseevents.
7~
rtlf! -flliii
!
A.R. Holcombe: "Studentshawallgonetowar. GreatCenterBuildingbuiltbyMethodists, 1850
Collegesuspended, andGodhelptheright."
GKYI'KWm COId-KCK 01' MM I8HN1
The Civil War
and its Aftermath
,„„.„„„., |,,„.|„ i,k „, 1i ..,....i.' 1bjit..State"
In 1861 theendofan erahadcomeforCentenary urn»iii]<; nodtr f.-rr.-.lu>UwMethod-i Bpiacopal•'!.ireli>.-i'l.'I-:. 1
CollegeofLouisianaafter36yearsofexistence.The '"",J i"'"-'-""" « |n "!'•''"•'"•''' '"I"'-
'II,.
20L) graduatestothatdateincluded 70lawyers, 27 At moil niterreorgnuinli 1 !,,- M•1''. "• <•i I-• Tli
medicaldoctors, 33 planters, 7 teachers, and 13 u. ,nowioii»illopen»"Urntir.iHonda) ,1 b'next
ministers. Tn.u.i.tn,$T"i|"iiiiiiiiui, pav.il>,''.'*.~ntf.ir.Ii.lik 11adVaol.
AftertheCivilWarended in 1865, Louisianafaced 2l.U„:-i\>Z.'\V 1, <i..r> nudgenit)I!,i!l- lh«l.„.,i..
alongperiodofreconstruction, economicruin, and mas,} bi,-i 1 «ri - , . .• .,-. „:i„,,..„,..,....IbjQm
„,.,„i(|i.ninlli. S.'ii'l..-ru>:.ii--.
socialandpoliticalturmoil. Federaltroopswere in The[Mill111-;-iiVnltin('..live.-u:1...(,!,Igt-ofit*futiiri-prosperity
completecontrol until 1877,whentheywereremoved. u -.Thien Ihcl iugh doe* rtheyoieigtlmiueinnootohmirnagius.hIililbelh«m.l.i.n.j ...
CentenaryCollegeofLouisianare-opened in mrtorj.inl• >HiigittteDepartments.
October 1865, under PresidentJ.H. Millerand three Th«ubli1i.iM.il.l.aiojri.ganiJxautnioi;i«annddofpineniii.ln*gnotitih,.e.CIonlslteigteu,tioan»,stua:.t-edrCaCbjoQvAeSted li,i;,,
facultymembers.Therewasadebtof$23,360forback '.....Lt,iugurt.:!.1866
salariesofthefacultyandapastduedebtonthemain \VM 11 WATKINS.
PmUrnl
building.The Board ofTrustees metagain in March (. H. WILEY,
1866, andelectedthe ReverendW.H.Watkins
PresidentoftheCollegeandtheReverendJ.C. Keener CentenaryCollegewasclosedduringtheCivilWar,andthecampus
aschairmanofthe BoardofTrustees.TheReverend wasoccupiedbyNortherntroopsduringthelatterdaysoftheWar.
Mr. Keenerthen devoted therestofhislifetopromot- WhentheCollegere-openeditsdoorsagain,theabovenoticewassent
ingCentenaryCollegeofLouisianabytraveling toprospectivestudents.