Recovered newspaper submission dated 2009-01-15; print publication date not independently verified. This archival republication preserves original reporting and points historical Preservation Network URLs to its revived Ning address.
Any talk of Natchitoches heritage would be incomplete without including the story of Northwestern State University. Since 1884, the two have shared not just a location, but an identity as well.
In 2009, NSU will celebrate its 125th anniversary. There will plenty of festivities surrounding the event, leading up to the release of a new book on the history of the university during its homecoming in the fall. But you can get a taste of NSU’s rich heritage right now at Cammie G. Henry Research Center at Watson Library.
Anniversary Exhibitions at Watson Library
To kick off the celebration of NSU’s 125th anniversary, the research center is featuring an exhibit on the school’s past anniversary celebrations. From now through March, the exhibit will display past photographs, program leaflets and other artifacts from these events. This fascinating journey through the past certainly makes you realize how far the university has come. It’s also an indicator as to how much the research center and its archives has to offer.
One of the most interesting aspects of this exhibit is the numerous panoramic photographs in use. These are generally group shots of the alumni attending past anniversaries. It’s interesting to see the growth of the number of alumni over the years, as well as their changing tastes in clothing. But, the panoramic prints are interesting in themselves. Due to their fragility, the research center staff use them sparingly in these exhibits, so go take a look while you can.
The “Past Anniversaries” exhibit runs now through March and can be viewed on the third floor of the Watson library at NSU. Admission is free.
Yearbooks, Photography, and Student Life
In April, a new exhibit will take its place featuring the Potpourri, NSU’s yearbook. The various editions of the Potpourri are some of the most popular titles in the research center. The exhibit pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of this chronicle of Northwestern history. The display will feature past yearbook editors like Irma Sompyrac Willard, who was one of the first editors of the Potpourri and also co-founder of the storied Natchitoches Art Colony.
The summer months will bring an exhibit focusing on the photography of Dr. John Kyser, who served as the president of the college from 1954 to 1966. Kyser was a prolific photographer who left numerous photos featuring both the NSU campus and his travels abroad. In addition to his pictures, the research center will display three of his cameras and some of the silver negatives from his photography.
In October, and continuing through the end of 2009, the display will feature student activities. Drawing on the archive’s store of NSU memorabilia, the exhibit will examine everything from sports to fashion.
Next time, I’ll take a closer look at what goes into putting an exhibit like this together and the thinking that preserves these items for the long haul. In the meantime, you can find more details about the Past Anniversaries exhibit in the events section of the Natchitoches Preservation Network website at www.natchitochespreservation.ning.com
What Remains
Northwestern State’s Cammie G. Henry Research Center continues to interpret the university and the region through archives. A 2025 exhibition celebrated the Louisiana Collection’s 85th anniversary, and the Center’s present listings include exhibitions addressing Louisiana history and regional photography. The 125th-anniversary displays reported in 2009 are thus part of a continuing practice: institutional anniversaries offer occasions to reconsider what survives in the archives and how it is presented to the public. Northwestern State, 2025 · Current exhibitions.
Updated October 2026
Supporting Documents & SourcesView related reporting & supporting materials
Article Catalog CardView the manuscript record, provenance & surviving materials
| Artifact | Original Natchitoches newspaper manuscript. |
|---|---|
| Period | 2009-01-15 submission. |
| Institution | Natchitoches Times and local cultural heritage organizations. |
| Role | Columnist and community heritage practitioner. |
| Evidence | Original dated email manuscript. |
| Status | Archival restoration; print edition not independently verified. |
| Subject | Northwestern State University 125th-anniversary exhibits and their archival objects. |
| Person documented | Mary Linn Wernet, university archivist. |
| Related record | Mary Linn Wernet memorial and article index. |
| Media status | Original exhibition photograph recovered from emailed attachment IMG_0916.JPG and displayed above. |
Critical Questions + Add to the Record
Application here: The university’s anniversary exhibits depend on what earlier generations saved, described, and passed to the research center.
Know something that adds context, documentation, correction, or firsthand knowledge to this record? Keep this page open and copy its URL into the contribution form.
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