Eugene P. Watson
Encyclopedia
Eugene Payne Watson (June 29, 1911 – February 29, 1964) was the head librarian and professor of library science at Northwestern State University
in his native Natchitoches, Louisiana
, from 1940 until his death. He fought to gain greater academic recognition of librarians. In 1950, Watson founded Alpha Beta Alpha
, the first coeducational undergraduate library science fraternity
in the United States. The fraternity held its first biennial convention on the NSU campus in 1952. At the time of Watson's death, the fraternity had twenty-nine chapters nationally.
(1909-1984), a prominent Natchitoches attorney, philanthropist, and the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic
State Central Committee from 1968-1976. Like his older brother, Watson was educated in the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Academy and St. Mary's High School
in Natchitoches. He received his bachelor of arts
degree from Northwestern (then the Louisiana State Normal College) in 1933, his Master of Arts
degree from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge in 1934, and his master of library science degree from LSU in 1937. He received the Ph.D.
from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1951. He also completed advanced studies at Columbia University
in New York City
from 1959-1960. He never married.
He joined the NSU faculty as an English instructor in 1934 and became the assistant librarian from 1937-1940. He was promoted to head librarian in 1940, a post that he held for the remainder of his life. His articles on education and literary subjects were published in professional magazines, as book reviews, and as editorials. He established the "Louisiana Room" at the then Russell Library on the NSU campus. He was a member of the American Library Association, the Modern Language Association
, the Bibliographical Society of America, the Louisiana Histyorical Association, the Louisiana Chess
Association, Delta Kappa Epsilon
, Beta Phi Mu
, Phi Kappa Rho, and Kappa Delta Pi. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of Columbus
men's organization. He was also active in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce
, the United Fund, American Red Cross
, and the Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc., an historical preservationist group.
Watson is interred in the Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches. A national library science scholarship is named in his honor. After Watson's death, the Russell Library at NSU was renamed the Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library.
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...
in his native Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, from 1940 until his death. He fought to gain greater academic recognition of librarians. In 1950, Watson founded Alpha Beta Alpha
Alpha Beta Alpha
Alpha Beta Alpha is a national honorary library fraternity dedicated to serving college and university library science majors at the undergraduate level...
, the first coeducational undergraduate library science fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
in the United States. The fraternity held its first biennial convention on the NSU campus in 1952. At the time of Watson's death, the fraternity had twenty-nine chapters nationally.
Background
Watson was born to Arthur William Watson (1877-1932) and the former Marie Eugenie Chopin (1879-1917). He had a brother Arthur Chopin WatsonArthur C. Watson
Arthur Chopin Watson was an attorney, state legislator, civic leader, philanthropist, and chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party from 1968–1976. He was afflicted with polio in infancy and lost the use of both legs, and his mother died when he was only seven...
(1909-1984), a prominent Natchitoches attorney, philanthropist, and the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
State Central Committee from 1968-1976. Like his older brother, Watson was educated in the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Academy and St. Mary's High School
St. Mary's High School (Natchitoches, Louisiana)
St. Mary's High School is a private coeducational Roman Catholic high school in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana....
in Natchitoches. He received his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Northwestern (then the Louisiana State Normal College) in 1933, his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge in 1934, and his master of library science degree from LSU in 1937. He received the Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 1951. He also completed advanced studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1959-1960. He never married.
He joined the NSU faculty as an English instructor in 1934 and became the assistant librarian from 1937-1940. He was promoted to head librarian in 1940, a post that he held for the remainder of his life. His articles on education and literary subjects were published in professional magazines, as book reviews, and as editorials. He established the "Louisiana Room" at the then Russell Library on the NSU campus. He was a member of the American Library Association, the Modern Language Association
Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature...
, the Bibliographical Society of America, the Louisiana Histyorical Association, the Louisiana Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
Association, Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
, Beta Phi Mu
Beta Phi Mu
Beta Phi Mu is the international honor society for library & information science and information technology. Founded by a group of librarians and library educators, the society's express purpose is to recognize and encourage "superior academic achievement" among library and information studies...
, Phi Kappa Rho, and Kappa Delta Pi. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
men's organization. He was also active in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, the United Fund, American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, and the Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc., an historical preservationist group.
Watson is interred in the Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches. A national library science scholarship is named in his honor. After Watson's death, the Russell Library at NSU was renamed the Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library.