College of Louisiana
Biography
In 1825, the Louisiana State Legislature established the College of Louisiana at Jackson, Louisiana,
and granted a charter to the college’s trustees. The original trustees of the college included the
Louisiana governor, Louisiana Supreme Court judges, and twenty-eight people named by the
legislature. The board of trustees included a board president, secretary, and treasurer. Much of the
college’s business was handled by trustee committees. The trustees were responsible for appointing the
college’s president, faculty, and staff; overseeing student discipline; and delivering an annual report to
the Louisiana State Legislature. Each year, the trustees held two regular meetings as well as occasional
called meetings.
In January 1826, classes began at the College of Louisiana and were initially held in the parish
courthouse building. The college constructed dormitory buildings in 1833 and 1837.
The courses offered by the college occasionally changed. In 1829, the college’s bylaws were revised to
list the following courses: English, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, mathematics, natural philosophy,
chemistry, natural history, geography, moral and political philosophy, ancient and modern history,
logic, and rhetoric. In addition to offering college-level courses, the institution also operated a
preparatory department for lower grades.
By 1845, the trustees faced mounting financial problems and low student enrollment. That year, the
trustees approved dissolving the board and surrendering the college’s charter to the Louisiana State
Legislature. In June 1845, the legislature sold the college’s property and buildings to Judge Edward
McGehee, who donated it to the Mississippi Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for
the new location of Centenary College, formerly located at Brandon Springs, Mississippi.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Elias Boatner letter
Photocopy facsimile of a letter from Elias Boatner to his son, Mark Boatner, who was a student at the College of Louisiana (Jackson, La.) during the 1830s. Describes parents’ disappointment and advice about Boatner’s poor student behavior as reported from the college president.
Nancy Fuqua Boone letter
Photocopy facsimile of a letter from Nancy Fuqua Boone to her sister, Phebe Olds Fuqua Woods Peirce. Includes news about family and friends as well as information about the community of Jackson, Louisiana. Nancy writes that her nephew, Van Woods, stopped attending the College of Louisiana, and she does not recommend the school at present. Nancy also invites her sister to attend the college’s exhibition taking place in July 1844.
William Marbury Carpenter correspondence
William Marbury Carpenter correspondence consisting of two photocopy facsimiles of letters written by Carpenter to the Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia, Pa.); originals located at the Archives of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Carpenter’s first letter (1840 July 2) relates to his new membership in the Academy. Carpenter’s second letter (1847 December 11) recommends the ornithology work of Dr. E. Pilate of Opelousas, Louisiana.
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