Surrounded by shelves of books, the light hum of conversation and the tapping of keyboards, students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana find themselves always returning to Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library. For many, it becomes more than just a study space—it feels like a second home.
Located at 913 University Pkwy, Watson Library offers academic resources and a variety of different quiet places to study or take proctored tests, making it one of the most visited places on campus.
Watson Library has an intriguing background full of Louisiana history, and this year marks the 85th anniversary of the Louisiana Collection and the Cammie G. Henry Research Center (CGHRC). The center’s mission is to collect, preserve and compose available research manuscripts and published material relating to the history and culture of Natchitoches.
NSU will be celebrating with a reception on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. An exhibition dedicated to the 85th anniversary will run the rest of the semester starting on Monday, Oct. 13 on the third floor of the library, where the CGHRC is located.
The anniversary’s special exhibit will have different articles and books regarding the Louisiana Collection set up, and attendees are welcome to ask questions and walk around at their own pace.
Due to the rich history of Natchitoches, collectors in the past have come in and taken historic evidence native to Natchitoches to other states for their own collections. This all made it hard for the Watson Library to complete its collection, but one man’s persistence ensured that Natchitoches’ history wasn’t forgotten.
Donna Baker, the head archivist of the CGHRC, explained that when Eugene P. Watson took over as the university’s librarian in 1940, he was very interested in the history of the area and that Natchitoches is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.
“He knew that other people were collecting around the south and so one of the first things he did when he became the librarian was start the Louisiana Collection,” Baker said.
Watson was dedicated to his job as librarian until his death in 1964. One of his goals was to fight to get greater academic recognition for librarians. In 1950, Watson founded Alpha Beta Alpha, the first coeducational undergraduate library science fraternity.
“He knew how important library science would be. He couldn’t foresee what we are in a digital age, but he understood needing that support and supporting literacy and the library sciences,” Baker said.
The fraternity held its first biennial convention on NSU’s campus in 1952. At the time of Watson’s death, the fraternity had 29 chapters nationally.
Growing up in Natchitoches impacted Watson’s life heavily, with the town’s history influencing many people like him.
“History itself is a very holistic organic thing, and we don’t teach it that way but when you start to look at these materials you understand a little more that it’s not just a date you have to memorize. These are people’s lives, they’re very similar to ours and there’s lessons to learn, good and bad,” Baker said.
The Louisiana Collection is a gathering of holistic evidence of Louisiana’s predecessors, the things they did and the impact they’ve left on the state.
If you find yourself at the Watson Memorial Library, take a browse through the old books or visit the third floor and enrich your learning through the collection of 85 years of history.
