Centenary Archives presents exhibit on College’s presidential inaugurations
February 16, 2017
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College of Louisiana Archives and Special Collections presents the exhibit Impressive Ceremonies: Centenary’s Presidential Inaugurations, 1835-2010. It features material documenting how Centenary has welcomed new college presidents throughout the institution’s history. The exhibit is accessible online and on display in the College’s Whited Room lobby of Bynum Commons through May 2017.
“As Centenary prepares to inaugurate President Christopher L. Holoman on March 17, we wanted to highlight ways in which the College has inaugurated his predecessors,” said archivist Chris Brown ‘01. “Previous inaugurations range from city-wide celebrations to merely a speech given before the board of trustees. It was especially interesting to learn about Joe Mickle’s 1946 inauguration with events at the Municipal Auditorium, Women’s Department Club, and Chamber of Commerce. This exhibit also reminded us of Centenary’s inconsistent way of numbering its presidents, which was adjusted in 2009.”
Archives student worker Olivia Brignac ‘19 helped research and prepare the exhibit. She noted, “The telegram from another college president congratulating Donald Webb on his inauguration was interesting because it represents a communication between presidents that I didn’t know about until I worked on this exhibit.”
The mission of the Centenary College Archives and Special Collections is to collect, preserve, and make available the historic records of the College and the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Chris Brown at 318.869.5462 or archives@centenary.edu.