Loose items, circa 1859-circa 1887
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of student records of Centenary College of Louisiana (Jackson, Louisiana). It includes manuscript volumes about enrollment, attendance, grades, and demerits. The records document students in Centenary’s college and preparatory departments.
Information about Centenary’s preparatory department appears in the manuscript volume titled “Monthly Record of Recitations and Attendance” (1845-1860). On pages 1-2, an introduction describes the early history of the department and its origins as the Feliciana High School, which was opened in November 1844 by William H. Potter and John Caldwell Doremus; this school merged with Centenary College in August 1845. This book is arranged chronologically. For each grading period, students’ names are listed alphabetically and include grades by class subjects. In addition, the book identifies some of the preparatory department principals and instructors.
Enrollment information appears in the “Record and Matriculation Book” (1852-1906). This book is arranged chronologically and contains two gaps (April 1862 - October 1865, April 1868 - October 1871). For each student enrolled, it includes their name, age, class (senior, junior, sophomore, freshman, preparatory), birthplace, present residence, parent/guardian, and post office. Starting with entries in 1902, students’ religious dominations are listed. For some students, additional notes appear, for example: state student, preacher’s son, too poor to pay, and professor’s child. The first women to enroll at Centenary appear in the records dated September 1898. The book’s final pages contain the Samuel Skolfield Bogan family library book inventory (1916); Bogan attended Centenary in 1894 and became a pastor in the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Additional volumes contain grades for college students (1852-1906) and preparatory students (1874-1906). Each volume is arranged chronologically, often divided by course, lists student names alphabetically, and contains grades by subject.
Student grades appear in the volume titled “Minutes of Trustee’s Meetings College of Louisiana and Centenary College 1825-1846 and Grades 1852-1890," though the book contains a gap between March 1861-1871.
The volume titled “Report of College Classes” (1890-1906) is a continuation of the previous volume, and it includes grades for Centenary’s first female students in 1899. On pages 350-360, the book contains examination grades from both college classes and the preparatory department (1894-1899). The entries reflect the preparatory department’s name change to the fitting school (circa 1901).
Roll books (1875-1885) document attendance and demerits for college and preparatory department students.
Two folders of loose items contain details about student grades (circa 1859-1906).
Dates
- circa 1859-circa 1887
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research use.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Centenary College of Louisiana Faculty (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Centenary College of Louisiana Archives and Special Collections Repository