A Fond Farewell to Colleen Bain

Colleen Bain, one of Centenary’s true treasures and beloved University Archivist at the Taylor Memorial Library, retired at the end of the fall 2023 semester. 

Students and staff alike had opportunities during the last week of the semester to say goodbye and wish her well on her retirement after 16 ½ years chronicling the comings and goings at the University. 

President Dale Caldwell hosted a retirement reception at the President’s House on Dec. 14 and presented Colleen a plaque naming the room that so many know as “The Archives” as the Colleen Bain University Archives & Special Collections Room. 

In addition, Colleen was awarded the Smart Heart of Art Award from the Art Guild Italia. The honor recognizes abundant warmth, congenial conduct and vivacious spirit in the area of library arts and was presented by Joseph Coco, adjunct professor of Art. 

“It was such an honor to work in the Taylor Memorial Library for all these years,” said Colleen. “It was an amazing honor to work with the archival material.” 

The Archives--tucked in the lower level of the library behind a heavy, locked door—has fascinated students, classes and alumni alike for decades. A little dusty and a bit hectic, it houses items from tea sets to an 18-seat board room table along with print materials since Centenary’s inception. 

“Working with the material in the Archives and then being able to share Centenary’s remarkable history with the students was a great pleasure,” said Colleen. 

Most recently, students in a Public History class taught by Noah Haiduc-Dale, associate professor of history, consulted the Archives for information on past pandemics as they sought to chronicle the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Prior to that, students in an Intro to Journalism class taught by Janet Zatta, adjunct professor of writing, dug through past issues of Centenary’s student newspapers to understand this history of journalism at the University. 

These are just two examples of the historical perspective the Archives provides, and that Colleen made accessible to the Centenary community. 

Colleen took advantage of any opportunity to talk about history in general and showcase Centenary history in particular. 

As an undergrad majoring in history at Georgetown University (Washington, DC) in the 70s, she experienced the political unrest and cultural change that went with the era. She witnessed firsthand the tumult in Washington with Watergate and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. She enjoyed sharing stories of this time period, especially in regard to the power of the press.  

Closer to home, she took great pride in creating the Centenary Mini Museum currently housed in a nook right outside the library’s instruction room. The Mini Museum is a treasure-trove of fascinating facts and photos throughout the years from epic fires to beauty queens. 

“There are so many interesting stories to tell,” said Colleen, “but the frosting on the cake for me was watching Professor Zatta’s journalism students resurrect a student newspaper at Centenary. The Archives hold old Centenary student newspapers going back to our founding just after the Civil War. But for the last few years, we did not have a student newspaper.” 

“I think Centenary should celebrate student viewpoints and opinions and the newly launched The Cyclone Chronicle surpassed my expectations with its wide variety of stories and superb writing,” Colleen noted. 

“Seeing the paper re-launched was reassurance that Centenary’s history will be saved,” the quintessential historian added. 

The Archives will continue its mission of preserving Centenary history under the able direction of Professor Haiduc-Dale, newly appointed University Archivist.  

In addition to Colleen’s pursuits in preserving history, she has always loved reading and moderated the library’s Nonfiction Book Group since 2021. The book group meets monthly and during her tenure, read 21 books covering a wide range of topics. 

“The first selection was “In Defense of Her Honor,” about the Tillie Smith murder case right here on campus in 1886,” said Colleen. “The special guest was the book’s local author, Denis Sullivan.” 

Her book selections always elicited animated conversation on such topics as the development of the polio vaccine, container shipping, compulsive hoarding, fast cars, efforts to bring back the American Chestnut tree, birding, and the history of Bell Labs in New Jersey, to name a few. No meeting was complete without beverages and treats, coinciding with the season. 

“It was a privilege to work alongside Colleen as she enriched the campus community with her knowledge and stories of the Taylor Memorial Library and Centenary,” said Susan Van Alstyne, library director. 

“I first met Colleen during my interview here at CU and was impressed by her dedication and love for the Library and the University. The way she spoke fondly about Centenary made me realize it was a place I wanted to be,” said Van Alstyne. 

“As I settled into my role, it was amazing to walk in and find Colleen on the phone discussing the history of a nearby  house or significant historical events relating to Centenary University. I even found myself on the other end of those calls when I was attending external functions and had a quick question about the University’s history, said Van Alstyne. 

“She always knew the answer and she never missed a beat.” 

“The next day she would be captivating students with her storytelling prowess,” said Van Alstyne. “It’s no wonder that students, past and present, often say, ‘I love Colleen’ and share their memories of her.”