Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture |
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| The Avery Research Center, 2019 | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Research Centre |
| Scope | African American History and Culture |
| Established | 1985 |
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina |
| Branch of | College of Charleston |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Materials that document the history, traditions, legacies, and influences of African Americans |
| Size | Over six thousand items |
| Criteria for collection | The history and culture of African Americans in Charleston, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and South Carolina at large |
The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is a special part of the College of Charleston library. It's located in Charleston, South Carolina. This center is built on the same spot where the Avery Normal Institute used to be.
The Avery Normal Institute was a historic school. It trained Black students for important jobs and leadership roles. It was a key place for Charleston’s African-American community from 1865 to 1954.
In 1978, former students of the Avery Normal Institute, led by Lucille Whipper, created a group. They worked with the College of Charleston. Together, they opened the Avery Research Center in 1985. Their goal was to keep the history of the Avery Normal Institute alive. They also wanted to teach everyone about the history and culture of African Americans in South Carolina.
Today, the Avery Research Center lets people explore old documents and photos. It offers tours, workshops, and talks. It also has museum exhibits you can visit in person or online. The center has over six thousand items. These items show the history, traditions, and impact of African Americans.
Contents
A Look Back: Avery's Story
Avery Normal Institute: A School for Change (1865–1954)
A school for African American students started in Charleston in 1865. It was founded by the American Missionary Association (AMA). The school had a few different names at first. It was finally named the Avery Normal Institute. This was the first official high school for African Americans in Charleston. It also had an important program to train teachers.
The school first used temporary buildings in Charleston after the Civil War. White missionaries from the North and free Black people from Charleston taught there. Francis Cardozo became the principal in 1866. He worked hard to get a permanent building for the school.
With help from a fund and the Freedmen’s Bureau, a new building opened in 1868. It was named the Avery Normal Institute. Cardozo quickly added teacher training to the school's goals.
Before 1919, a rule in Charleston stopped African Americans from teaching in most public schools. So, many Avery graduates, like Septima Clark, taught in small schools across South Carolina. They often worked in rural areas around Charleston. Later principals, like Morrison A. Holmes, continued the focus on teacher training.
In 1917, Avery helped start the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The first president of this group was Edwin Harleston, an artist who graduated from Avery in 1900.
Benjamin Cox was principal from 1915 to 1936. His wife, Jeanette Keeble Cox, helped improve the school. They added new facilities and classes. They also brought in cultural events like plays and music. Cox was the first Black principal at Avery since Cardozo. Later principals, Frank DeCosta and L. Howard Bennett, made the school even more modern.
In 1947, Avery Normal Institute became a public school. Then, in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court made a big decision called Brown v. Board of Education. This decision said that separate schools for Black and white students were not fair. Because of this, the county school board closed Avery Normal Institute. Its students and teachers moved to Burke High School.
Even after it closed, Avery Normal Institute had a lasting impact. Its students and teachers were often involved in the civil rights movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people. Many Avery graduates became important civil rights leaders. These included Septima Clark, J. Andrew Simmons, and J. Arthur Brown.
Avery Institute: Keeping History Alive
After the school closed in 1954, the buildings were used for a business college. In 1978, a group of Avery graduates and friends formed a new organization. They called it The Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. Their goal was to get the old Avery school buildings back. They wanted to create a place to save and share African-American history and culture. The first president of this group was Lucille S. Whipper.
The group decided to work with the College of Charleston. This would help them achieve their goals. In 1981, they received a grant to plan for the future. This led to the idea of a research center. It would be a joint project between the Avery Institute and the College of Charleston. The College of Charleston then received the buildings. This allowed them to create the Avery Research Center.
Avery Research Center: Today's Mission (1985–Present)
The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture officially opened in 1985. There were some delays because of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. But the grand opening finally happened on October 6, 1990.
Today, the Avery Institute is a separate group. It helps support the Avery Research Center's museum, education, and public programs. It also helps the center get new historical collections.
Museum and Historic Site
The Avery Research Center has a small museum. It has several rooms that show different exhibits. Some exhibits are always there, and some change over time. The staff creates new exhibits each year. They use old documents, art, and rare books from their collections. The center also shows art by artists from South Carolina and other places.
You can take free guided tours of the center. They are available Monday through Friday.
Amazing Archival Collections
The Avery Research Center has over six thousand historical items. These include about two hundred collections of old papers and documents. They also have over five thousand printed items. These range from books and pamphlets to dissertations and journals.
The collections also contain over four thousand photos. There are also many old videos, audio recordings, and digital files. You can even find collections of artifacts. These include items related to slavery and sweetgrass baskets.
You can search for many of these items online. The College of Charleston’s library has an online catalog. The Avery Research Center's website also has a guide to its collections. Some items are available online through the Lowcountry Digital Library.
Programs and Learning for Everyone
The Avery Research Center offers many events and programs. These include public talks, workshops, and movie showings. They also host performances, conferences, and exhibit openings. Sometimes, the Avery staff organizes these events. Other times, outside groups use the center for their own events.
The events usually focus on African-American history and culture. They also cover current issues in the Lowcountry and other parts of the world. The center has different spaces for events. These include the McKinley Washington Auditorium and various classrooms. You can find upcoming events on the Avery Research Center's calendar.
The Avery staff also leads educational programs. These programs happen at the center and in other places. They teach about important people, movements, and events in African-American history. They use materials from the Avery Research Center's archives to do this.
