History
1825 - 1849
1825 February 18
College of Louisiana (Jackson, LA) created by Louisiana state legislature
1825 May 2
College of Louisiana board of trustees holds first meeting
1826 January
Classes begin at College of Louisiana
1826 June
Jeremiah Chamberlain elected College of Louisiana president by trustees
1829 March
Isaac Ambrose Smith elected College of Louisiana president pro tem by trustees
1829 July
Henry Hatton Gird elected College of Louisiana president by trustees
1833
East Wing Dormitory constructed at College of Louisiana
1835 February
James Shannon elected College of Louisiana president by trustees
1837
West Wing Dormitory constructed at College of Louisiana
1837 June
College of Louisiana awards first diplomas
1839
Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS) founded by Mississippi Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
1840 December
William Brittainham Lacey elected College of Louisiana president by trustees
1841 May
Thomas Chapman Thornton elected Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS) president by trustees
1841 November
Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS) opening ceremony and classes begin
1842
Union Literary Society student organization founded at Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS)
1843
Franklin Institute student literary society founded at Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS)
1843 July
Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS) awards first diplomas
1844 July
William Winans elected Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS) president pro tem by trustees
1845 February 28
College of Louisiana board of trustees approve report to close college and surrender charter back to state of Louisiana
1845 March 8
Louisiana state legislature passes act authorizing the closure of the College of Louisiana
1845 June
Mississippi Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South purchases the College of Louisiana campus from state of Louisiana
1845 July
Final commencement held at Centenary College (Brandon Springs, MS)
1846 January
Trustees rename institution Centenary College of Louisiana
1846 January
Laws for student government approved by trustees
1846 January
David Olcott Shattuck elected president of Centenary College of Louisiana by trustees
1848 December
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet elected president by trustees
1849 July
Richard Henderson Rivers elected president by trustees
1849
Mystical Seven (Temple of Wreath chapter) student society chartered
1850 - 1874
1852
Earliest-known music professor hired: Armand Blackmar
1854 July
Benjamin Michael Drake elected president pro tem by trustees
1855
Phi Kappa Sigma (Theta chapter) fraternity chartered
1855 March
John Copeland Miller elected president by trustees
1858
Delta Kappa Epsilon (Zeta Zeta chapter) fraternity chartered
1858
Chi Phi (Beta chapter) fraternity chartered
1858
Centre Building construction completed
1861 October
College closes due to Civil War, college classes suspended October 1861, Centenary’s preparatory classes continue until circa 1863
1862
Confederate hospital opens at Centenary, presumably one or more of the campus buildings were used. Confederate cemetery also established on campus at this time in conjunction with the hospital. On November 21, 1862, a tableau and brass band concert was held in the Centenary auditorium for the benefit of the hospital.
1863 August 3
Battle of Jackson occurs on campus
1865 October
College reopens (classes resume)
1866 March
William Hamilton Watkins elected president by trustees
1868 October
Rev. Ananias Fraer (formerly enslaved at Centenary, where he learned to read and write from students) is president of the Republican Club of Jackson in October 1868. In April 1869, he is serving as pastor of the Black congregation at Magnolia Methodist Episcopal Church (Jackson, LA). In October 1870, he is elected president for the Republican Party of East Feliciana Parish. Fraer dies in January 1871.
1871 July
Charles Green Andrews elected president by trustees