Centenary College alumni visited Centenary Historic Site, the former college campus in Jackson, during a March trip as part of the bicentennial celebration activities planned for the 2025 calendar year.
Jackson historian Michael Howell, right, with Ann Reiley Jones of Blairstown at Centenary Historic Site where they joined the Centenary College alumni group for a tour March 15. The West Wing dormitory can be seen in the background with alumni at entrances and doorways or under the covered areas.
The group was led by Chris Brown, director of the Centenary College and United Methodist Church of Louisiana Archives, whose family has been associated with Centenary for several generations.
The event was planned by the Alumni Department in conjunction with the Bicentennial Committee, according to Hannah Rachal-Hughes, director of alumni and family relations.
The group’s visit to the historic site was somewhat abbreviated because of intermittent rain but did include a tour of the remaining West Wing dormitory and the viewing of an informational video about the history of the college. They were welcomed to the site by Daniel Goyer, park manager for Centenary and Port Hudson historic sites.
The two-story, columned dormitory was built in 1837. The visitors viewed several of the downstairs rooms, which today offer displays of historic significance. In addition to the larger room, where the informational video was shown, other artifacts, including student graffiti, were viewed.
Some of the Centenary College alumni pose at the Professor’s Cottage before walking back to the West Wing dormitory building at Centenary Historic Site.
The remaining dorm, which was one of two, was also shown in a painting which clearly illustrated, by comparison. The impressive size of the college's main structure known as the Center Building.
Park Manager Daniel Goyer, far left, speaks to the Centenary alumni who are about to watch the video on the history of the college.
Dodging showers, the group retreated back to the ballroom of Old Centenary Inn in Jackson. That structure was built with some of the bricks and columns salvaged from the dismantling of the college in the 1930s. There, Brown spoke to the group about archives and special collections, specifically the ones in the Magale Library on the campus of present-day Centenary College of Louisiana, 2911 Centenary Blvd., in Shreveport.
"We collect, preserve and make available the historic records of Centenary College and United Methodism in Louisiana,” a brochure from the Archives and Special Collections stated.
Brown gave examples of the variety of materials and artifacts that the special collections and archives have and later encouraged visitors to share some similar materials they might have, though more recent, or might discover and could share with younger and future generations.
Brown said the “Centenary’s Legacy” exhibit at the Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary runs through May 2 and Sept. 2 to Dec. 6.
Brown continued the learning activity with the audience. He gave out different archival information to small groups for them to read, study and eventually share.
An example of the primary source material given out was a letter from Walter Compton at Centenary in Jackson to his sister dated Dec. 14, 1850. The photocopy of the handwritten letter also included a typed version of the transcribed/translated old-fashioned cursive for that group. From Compton’s letter the audience learned about the news he had shared of past events and upcoming activities — true glimpses back in time. Brown continued using the primary sources as he questioned the groups in his audience/class, drawing out other interesting facts.
At the conclusion of the activities in Jackson, the alumni were given several items as keepsakes including a painting of the West Wing.
For information about the Centenary archives and special collections, call (318) 869-54 62 or visit the website .