1. Myrtle Glascoe Administration, 1973-2002
Scope and Contents
The institutional records of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston, established in 1985. Included are administrative and organizational records, records of archival holdings, and records reflecting the many programs and other outreach efforts enacted by Avery Research Center. The majority of materials are papers with a few published works, artifacts, and posters.
The records are arranged chronologically by earliest first date and divided into series by administration of ARC's leaders, reflecting the administrations of the seven directors/executive directors that ARC has had so far.
Each director's series is then further divided into three main sub-series: administration and operations, archival holdings, and outreach and programs.
Administration and operations are once again further divided by:financials (budgets and reports; grants; donations/fundraising; the College of Charleston Foundation, expenses, incoming, and gift shop); building (renovation, property, rental agreements, utilities and equipment), personnel (searches and general information, employee personnel files, volunteers and interns, and contact lists), correspondence (internal, College of Charleston, and external), policies, planning, and reports (policies and procedures; reports and planning; advisory board; staff meetings and retreats; statistics, surveys, and logs; and work schedules).
Archival holdings are divided into: policies and planning, inventories and collections, and reference and loan records.
Outreach and programs are divided into: publications (further subdivided by publication type), exhibits, Avery-run programs, collaborative programs, event calendars, scholarship and projects, student education, African American Museum, publicity and outreach, memberships and partnerships, and awards.
Dates
- Creation: 1973-2002
Creator
- From the Collection: Dulaney, W. Marvin, 1950- (Person)
- From the Collection: Glascoe, Myrtle Gonza (Person)
- From the Collection: Chandler, Karen A. (Person)
- From the Collection: Edison, Robert (Person)
- From the Collection: Williams Dockery, Patricia (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials are in English.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions apply.
Biography
Dr. Myrtle Gonza Glascoe was the founding executive director of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1936, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Howard University, a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. During the 1960s, Glascoe was active in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Prior to her move to Charleston, South Carolina, she taught at Tougaloo College and later at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. She was appointed Avery’s first executive director in February 1985. Upon arriving in Charleston, Glascoe played a central role in establishing the institution’s public presence, recruiting student volunteers, and promoting the work of the Avery Research Center when it was located at the intersection of St. Philip and George Streets. Trained as both an educator and social worker, she emerged as one of South Carolina’s early leaders in the post–Civil Rights Black museum movement. In 1985, under her leadership, Avery received a grant from the South Carolina Committee for the Humanities to support a project on South Carolina history and culture. Drawing on her experience collecting oral histories of Black women across the state—particularly in relation to education and community organizing—Glascoe initiated a conference highlighting the contributions of Black women. The conference was held on February 28 and March 1, 1985, in observance of Black History Month and Women’s History Month. During her tenure, Glascoe emphasized exhibitions and programs focused on education, civil rights and social justice, and Africanisms in the African diaspora. Under her administration, the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture continued publication of The Bulletin, first issued in spring 1981. Her leadership is further marked by the promotion of Gullah history and culture, the initiation of archival collecting efforts, and the expansion of Avery’s engagement with the broader African diaspora. Glascoe is prominently documented in the Avery Research Center’s archives, including a well-known photograph of her standing on the steps of the Center during the 1990 Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Sierra Leonean educator and diplomat Dr. George Carew.
Full Extent
From the Collection: 54.34 linear feet (125 document boxes, 1 slim document box, 1 oversize box)
Repository Details
Part of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture Repository
125 Bull Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424 United States
843-953-7608
averyresearchcenter@cofc.edu