The success of any school is due in large part to its faculty and staff. The faculty will teach students what they’ll need to know to succeed, and staff will help them navigate their way through college. Hopefully, in the process they will help students feel comfortable and confident. Centenary employees have always served the school admirably in this way, starting back in 1874, when the school first opened.
Prof. Edward A. Whitney
Dr Whitney, Centenary Collegiate Institute’s first president, recognized the importance of a strong faculty, and took great care in hiring devoted individuals to help the school flourish. Though there were many faithful employees, the president relied on one person more than anyone else: his younger brother, Edward A. Whitney. Professor Whitney served Centenary for 21 years, from 1874 – 1895, and was not only a member of the faculty, but held many staff positions as well. He was principal and instructor of the Commercial Department and the Institute’s cashier, bookkeeper, and librarian! Additionally, in 1889, with the president in extremely poor health, Professor Whitney took to helping him run the school. He was an invaluable member of the faculty and staff until his death in 1895.
Other original faculty members include:
Miss Stella Waldo, 1874 – 1892
1874 – 1881: Piano and Organ
1881 – 1888: Voice and Piano
1888 – 1892: Vocal Music
Miss Anna Nicholl, 1874 – 1886
1874 – 1882: History, Painting, and Drawing
1882 – 1886: History and Mathematics
L. H. Batchelder, 1874 – 1882
1874 – 1877: Natural Science and Mathematics
1877 – 1882: Chemistry and Mathematics
Fanny Gulick, 1874 – 1882 (left to marry Professor Batchelder!)
1874 – 1878: English Literature and German
1878 – 1882: Belles-Lettres and German
The 1892 school publication, “The Hackettstonian”, had this to say about the faculty:
“The marked attainments and high reputation on the world of education maintained by Centenary Collegiate Institute is in no small measure due to the constant endeavor and untiring zeal of its Faculty. Their position is, indeed, an unselfish one, and one that is seldom fully appreciated; and we have deemed it eminently fitting that they should be represented in this number. It is, then, with just pride that we present our readers with a brief summary of the lives which have been helpful to so many in their school career, and for whom we have the highest regard.”
TAYLOR MEMORIAL LIBRARY ARCHIVES 