Mrs. Genie Everett McCloskey ’65 first became part of the Newman community in 1952 when she was enrolled in Kindergarten at age 5. She grew up a block away from Newman, and her two older brothers would walk her to school every day.
She met her future husband at Newman, and they started dating her junior year; he was one year older than her and in her brother’s class. Her senior year, in 1964, she was named Homecoming Queen. After she graduated in 1965, she went on to Newcomb College (now Newcomb-Tulane College), while her husband went to Tulane University. They have been married for 58 years and have lived at what she calls the “Cutest Little Pink House On Broadway” for the past 55 years.
In 1981, she returned to Newman as a lower school math assistant, while her three children were attending Newman. The following year, she was paired with a first grade teacher as an assistant and took on teaching kindergarten art in the Greenie Room of the former Stern Building. Additionally, she served as President of the Newman Parents Association for the 1990-91 school year.
More than a decade later, her love for Newman would take on a new form. In 1994, she curated a special display in the Lemle Hallway for Newman’s 90th anniversary, which led former Head of School Scott McLeod to ask her to establish the Newman Archives and serve as the school’s first—and so far, only—archivist. He told her: “You do the things that make the difference.” She states: “The right person saw potential and gave me a fabulous opportunity.”
That school year, she started searching the entire campus for anything that was part of Newman’s history. As she found things, she would organize them into categories by year. She says: “It wasn’t anything I was trained to do. I just love to organize. I love Newman. And I love Newman’s history.” She was not settled until she had searched every closet and attic in the school. At the time, she was supported by former Business Manager and family member Martin Macdiarmid, who provided her with the necessary funds to curate the school’s history.
For the past 31 years, Mrs. McCloskey has been protecting, preserving, and displaying over 121 years of history and traditions of the school. For 30 of those years, the archives have lived on the second floor of the Bertha Marcus Levy Center (above the dining hall), but this year, they were relocated to the second floor meeting room of the Palaestra during the Levy building renovation. Today, the archives also has a digital collection of scanned photographs and memorabilia to be preserved into the future.
Her work is not just about preserving objects—it’s about safeguarding the spirit of Newman, capturing the memories, milestones, and meaning behind every artifact. Archivism is important to her because the school has such a rich and meaningful history. Isidore Newman established the school for Jewish orphans and all children in New Orleans to be educated through manual training and equipped with the skills needed to be successful in the workforce. Newman’s motto “we learn to do by doing” was part of the school’s identity from the start and is still seen in classrooms today. What she enjoys the most is finding new treasures and learning from alumni who share their stories and donate items to be part of Newman’s collection.
Over the years, Mrs. McCloskey has helped plan and organize many special events on campus. She adds: “Honoring Newman’s traditions is a priority. That is why I have been involved in major events like Homecoming, Founder’s Day, awards programs, and Commencement for many years.” For Founder’s Day, she curates and displays boards celebrating Newman’s history, creates and delivers years of service ribbons to all Newman faculty, and orders and organizes anniversary years of service certificates and Lemann awards. For Homecoming, she updates the spirit stick with its most recent winner and stores the king and queens’ crowns and the ties for the Kindergarten Court. She also orders and wraps all of the lower, middle, and upper school awards, in addition to ordering the senior yard signs and state championship athletic banners. You may also notice bulletin boards in the upper school with green and white ribbon and Newman logos in the corners that were specially designed by her. She describes her job as “archives, aesthetics, and special events” and “a dream come true.”
The Newman Archives tell a story—they represent where we came from and how we have changed over time to develop our identity as a school today—and Mrs. McCloskey is at the heart of that story. She reflects: “Newman’s been my life” and “I’ve been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to do all of these things that I love to do here. You can’t beat that.” She also enjoys seeing three of her grandchildren—Sydney ’26, Madison ’28, and P.J. ’30 Able—on campus and supporting them at all of their games and events.
Thanks to Mrs. McCloskey, Newman’s archives continue to tell the evolving story of our school. Her dedication ensures that generations of Greenies—past, present, and future—can celebrate the rich history and traditions of our community. The contributions to the archives of Newman faculty and alumni demonstrate the Newman community’s unwavering commitment to preserving the school’s history.
Students today contribute to the legacy of the Newman archives by visiting Mrs. McCloskey in the archives or keeping cherished items from their time at Newman—including award certificates, theater playbills, publications, photos, and more—and donating them to the Newman archives when they are alumni to preserve their place in Newman’s history.
Here is what some members of the Newman faculty have to say about the Newman Archives and Mrs. McCloskey:
Mr. Bobby Carey ’86, US Writing Center:
“There are two things I keep in front of my desk: A quote by a student about writing and reading and the pin Genie McCloskey crafts [for Founders Day] because it reminds me of one how long i’ve been here and two the kind of people who care enough to make a memory of that and make it matter. To me, Genie McCloskey is an important reminder of the tradition of the school because she does the work of it.”
Ms. Angelina Catalanotto, Executive Assistant to the Heads of School:
“Newman is a special place with its own history, mission, traditions, and memories. Ms. Genie is integral in preserving the origin, growth, and legacy of the Isidore Newman School. She does this with much of her own priceless historical knowledge, sincerity, and adoration for Newman. She feels the pulse of the institution and community and genuinely wants to ensure that the importance of this will be known and appreciated by future generations.”
Ms. Kim Causey, Coordinator of Community & Inclusion:
“Genie is one of Newman’s greatest storytellers and culture bearers. I wouldn’t be able to do my job without all of the things I’ve learned from her. She’s helped root me in the history of the school and its commitment to inclusion from the very beginning. She’s grounded me in traditions and values that are so important to preserve for future generations of Newman students. Genie’s helped me feel like I belong here – even as someone who isn’t a Newman alum – by making its history come alive in photos and memorabilia. She makes me – and every faculty and staff member – feel loved and appreciated with her signature handmade pins and ribbons on Founder’s Day each year. Genie is a Newman treasure and her important work will impact generations to come.”
Ms. Lisa Goff ’86, Security & Risk Manager:
“In a world that appears obsessed with the next new thing, there is incredible value in treasures from the past. Genie McCloskey’s institutional knowledge and commitment to carrying on Newman’s time-honored traditions is an irreplaceable asset to our School.”
Ms. Lauren Haro, Financial Aid Coordinator & Database Manager:
“The Newman archives play a crucial role in our School’s history. They safeguard the memories of former students and provide current students with a window into Newman’s earlier days. Beyond the tangible value of archives, Genie McCloskey’s institutional knowledge is unparalleled and continues to help shape Newman’s current events and celebrations.”
Mr. Mike Jackman, Math Resource Lab:
“In an institution so rich in tradition and history, the archives allow us to connect the past with the present and preserve our 122 years of shared memories for future Greenie generations. To have someone in charge of the archives who is as passionate about our school as Mrs. McCloskey is a true blessing for the entire Neman community.”
Mr. Greg Malis, Math Department Chair and US Math Teacher:
“A school that’s rich in tradition should always be celebrating that history and having someone as a resource to remind us of that history and give members of the community an opportunity to see our past and understand where we came from and what is essentially our DNA of our school.”
Ms. Erin O’Brien ’98, Director of Technology:
“Mrs. McCloskey’s level of care and concern for the history of our school is crucial to the history of not only our community but also Newman’s influence and impact on New Orleans. Newman and New Orleans are inextricably intertwined, and there are so many Newman stories that impacted the course of history in our city. Mrs. McCloskey has been a tedious steward of our best artifacts and stories. We would not be able to lean on and celebrate our own history and use that knowledge to look to the future without her steadfast work and dedication.”
Ms. Jennifer Rosen ’84, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management:
“In my opinion, the Newman Archives have been a hidden gem of our school and I’m thrilled to know that they will have a beautiful new display space in the newly renovated and restored second floor of the Levy Building. The preservation of these archives has been stewarded almost solely by Mrs. Genie McCloskey. Her dedication and focused efforts to maintain and display these records have kept the story of Isidore Newman School available for those who wish to reminisce as well as for those who want to learn more about the history of our school. Mrs. McCloskey’s love of Newman (and the color Green!) has made her an invaluable resource for our alumni, students, faculty and friends of Newman. Mrs. McCloskey has been a student, parent and grandparent at Newman; I don’t know of any other local school with the same depth of history who also has such a knowledgeable individual to keep the spirit of the school alive!”
Mr. Dale Smith, Head of School:
“The Newman Archives is important because it preserves and celebrates the long history and meaningful artifacts of our School. The archives tell the story of Newman School from our founding in 1903 to current times. As an alumna, Newman parent, Newman grandparent, and Newman teacher, Genie McCloskey ’65 is our first and only archivist. The depth of her love for her alma mater and her many years associated directly with the School combine to make her ideal for this important role for Newman.”
Ms. Jennifer Williams, Lower School Science Department Chair:
“Mrs. McCloskey’s stewardship of the archives is nothing short of extraordinary. She is not just a caretaker of our school’s history—she is our storyteller, our protector, and our passionate advocate. Her meticulous care, deep institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment to accuracy and authenticity ensure that our history is preserved with integrity and heart. But beyond that, it is her warmth, generosity, and tireless spirit that make her presence at Newman so deeply cherished. To say Mrs. McCloskey is important to Newman is an understatement. She is a cornerstone of our community—a guardian of our collective memory and a beloved figure whose impact reaches far beyond the walls of the archives.”
Ms. Jenny Williamson, Stewardship and Events Manager:
“Stewardship of archives is essential to Newman as it preserves our legacy, values, and identity for future generations. Genie McCloskey’s meticulous keeping of records of Newman’s founding, traditions and milestones supports alumni engagement, historical research, and future decision-making. Archives not only celebrate the past but also guide the school into the future.”
