‘Centenary’s Legacy’ taking center stage at The Meadows
To celebrate Centenary College of Louisiana’s bicentennial year, the Meadows Museum of Art and the college’s Archives and Special Collections have developed Centenary’s Legacy, an exhibition that celebrates 200 years of preparing global citizens to live productive lives of vitality and purpose. One new display for the fall explores teaching and learning at Centenary over the years.
With 200 years as a higher-education institution, Centenary is most well-known for its undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, lesser-known examples of the College educating students of all ages include programs such as the Centenary Law School, Centenary Nursery School, Continuing Education, and others.
The Centenary Law School existed from 1925 to 1945. This program served business men and women who worked full-time and were unable to attend an accredited law school, but who could attend classes at night. The course of instruction allowed its members to appear before the Louisiana Bar Examining Committee, which required that students study three years of law. Originally conducted under the auspices of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the courses existed as separate and distinct from the regular College curriculum. Courses including criminal law, equity, corporations, and torts were taught by two local practicing attorneys: Mr. Louis Percy Garrot, LLB (graduate of LSU and the Harvard law school) and Mr. Joseph Hoyt Jackson, LLB (graduate of LSU and Oxford University of England).
The Centenary Nursery School ran for eight years, from 1950 to 1958, and its kindergarten opened in 1953. The program enrolled children between two and five years of age. It integrated with other college departments – such as music, art, and physical education – and was a useful tool for students learning about child development in Centenary’s Education and Psychology Department and Home Economics Department. A class picture shows children posing in their school t-shirts with teachers, and other photographs in the archives show children engaged in activities like playing in a sandbox, painting, and playing with puzzles.
The Centenary College Continuing Education Program operated from 1972 to 2005, offering non-credit courses such as dancing, car maintenance, and computer literacy to adults. Originally free for senior citizens, classes were taught by Centenary faculty, professionals in the community, and fellow senior adults – all of whom volunteered their time. The program was funded by the College, local churches, and community organizations to serve the growing population of older Americans. The classes provided personal enrichment, meaningful education, increased social contacts, and positive interactions between the College and people in the community. Over time, the program grew to offer full-priced adult classes for all ages, with a nominal fee of $10-$15 for seniors. The fees paid honorariums to the instructors and recognized the perks that attendees could take advantage of at Centenary such as staff prices in the cafeteria, library access, and student prices at athletic and cultural events.
Learn more about the College, its educational programs, and notable people from Centenary’s history by visiting Centenary’s Legacy at the Meadows Museum this fall. An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 29, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Museum will be open to the public September 2 – December 6, 2025, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on Sundays and College holidays.