Watson Library exhibit celebrates life of late archivist Mary Linn Wernet

Former Archivist Mary Linn Wernet

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Eugene P. Watson Library is hosting an exhibition to honor the late, wide-respected university archivist.  The exhibition, “Wunderkammer:  A Celebration of Mary Linn Wernet Exhibit” will run through May 10 in the Cammie G. Henry Research Center where Wernet worked for 34 years.

“Wunderkammer is loosely translated as ‘room of wonder,’ and that is what Mary Linn Wernet created when she began her tenure at the Cammie G. Henry Research Center,” said Donna Baker, the university’s current archivist and records officer. “For thirty-four years Mary Linn built a space for memory, discovery and community.  This exhibit celebrates Mary Linn’s career, scholarship and stewardship of the hundreds of collections housed at the Cammie G. Henry Research Center.”

Wernet, who was also an associate professor, joined the NSU staff in 1988. Prior to that, she was an appraisal archivist with the Louisiana State Archives and an oil and gas title abstractor with Caddo Abstract and Title Company in Shreveport.

Wernet was a member and officer in several historical and archival associations around the region.  She provided hundreds of presentations and presented many exhibitions highlighting the collections of the Cammie G. Henry Research Center. Her last exhibit was “50 Years of Collecting at the NSU Libraries Cammie Henry Research Center – Featuring Artifacts of Interest,” part of Watson Library’s 50th anniversary celebrations. She passed away Jan. 31, 2022.

Baker said colleagues referred to Wernet and her enclyclopedic knowledge of history, the collections and details related to research as “the Mary Linn-dex.”

“She had amazing ability to find what researchers needed, to the volume and page,” Baker said.  “We wanted to celebrate her and recognize her service and the collections she brought in.”

The Cammie G. Henry Research Center is housed on the third floor of Watson Library.  Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-noon Friday.

For more information, contact Baker at bakerd@nsula.edu.