Postwar Struggle
Centenary College of Louisiana reopened in 1866 in a completely different world than the one that had forced their closing five years earlier. Whereas in 1861, there had been secession fever, and cotton was king, there was now nothing. The people that had been among the wealthiest in the country were reduced to selling wool and eggs. Those who had previously sent their sons to Centenary either could no longer afford to, or no longer had sons to send. Also, Millsaps College had opened, taking away a significant portion of their enrollment—and more importantly, endowment—base.
Faced with these dire financial straits, the president of the college would often be away for months at a time. He would go door-to-door, practically begging for financial support, or simply visit as many Methodist congregations as he could reach, passing the hat—to little or no avail.
Their financial desperation reached the point of being unable to compensate their professors. The policy was, in short: if they had the money, the professors would be paid. To make up for this deficiency, in the late 1890s, they constructed five Professors' Cottages. The only remaining cottage is one of the most visible features of the campus today.
Another move made in the 1890s to boost enrollment figures was the admittance of female students. The ladies were not originally given degrees or diplomas. They were rather given certificates of attendance, which basically meant they could teach. The first degree was conferred upon a female graduate in 1901.
Read more about this topic: Centenary College Of Louisiana At Jackson
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