History of Centenary College Told Through Photographs

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Campus History series is Centenary College, New Jersey from local author and Centenary College professor, Raymond Frey. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by on this New Jersey campus.

The story of Centenary College begins just a few years after the Civil War. Tested by fire in 1899, it evolved from a coeducational Methodist preparatory school and collegiate institute to an all-girls’ school in 1910, later becoming a junior college for women in 1940. In 1976, Centenary transformed into a four-year women’s college.

Men returned to campus in 1988 as the college became northwestern New Jersey’s only four-year coeducational institution. In the 1990s, graduate programs and off-campus accelerated degree programs were created to meet the needs of a new generation of students.

Centenary’s history is remarkably preserved in its extensive archives, which contain thousands of historic photographs and documents. The author hopes that the book will “bring back many fond memories for our alumni, and introduce the rich history of and traditions at Centenary College to new generations of students, faculty, and staff.”

Highlights of Centenary College, New Jersey:
• A portion of the profits from the sale of the book are being donated to the Friends of the Centenary Library.
• The images in the book are from the Centenary College Archives, and date back to the college’s founding in 18678.
• Most of the images have never before been published.
• This is the first published history of the college since 1947.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or
(888)-313-2665. 

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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About the Author of Centenary College, New Jersey

Dr. Raymond Frey is a professor of history at Centenary College in Hackettstown, where he has taught for the past 22 years. He holds graduate degrees in history and philosophy from Fordham University and Drew University, and an honorary doctorate from Centenary College.

Professor Frey is the recipient of three major awards for teaching excellence—the Evening Division Teaching Award from Pace University, the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching from Centenary, and the Award for Teaching New Jersey History from the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance.  In 2006, he was the Gates-Ferry Foundation Distinguished Lecturer at Centenary.  In 2008, he received the New Jersey Historical Commission’s Award of Recognition for his work in New Jersey history, and in 2009 was honored with the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement in History and Civics.
 
Professor Frey is also one of the leading scholars of New Jersey history.  He has written a widely-used textbook on the state—New Jersey, A Journey of Discovery.  He has contributed to the New Jersey Encyclopedia, and regularly lectures on New Jersey history around the state.  He is presently at work on a book about New Jersey in the 1960’s.

Dr. Frey was born in Passaic, NJ and presently lives in Lafayette Township, Sussex County, with his wife and two children.