DeCosta, Herbert A., Jr., July 10, 1995
Scope and Contents
The Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture Oral History Project contains 44 oral history interviews arranged in three series based on the corresponding project or scope of the oral histories. The majority of the oral histories were conducted or coordinated by Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture members with the exception of Phase 2 of the Avery Normal Institute Oral History Project which was conducted by the Avery Research Center. Within each series, the oral histories are arranged alphabetically by last name. Greater details about the contents of each oral history can be found at the file level abstract of each interview. Each oral history, when available, includes a transcript and any supporting documentation like questions, notes, tape logs, and interview release forms. Transcripts do not currently exist for every interview and work to create them is ongoing.
Series I: Avery Normal Institute Oral History Project, 1980-1996 contains oral histories with former students, teachers, principals, and community members of the Avery Normal Institute discussing their attendance at the school including classes, teachers, extracurricular activities as well as perceptions of the school in the larger African American Charleston community and perceived reasons for why the school was closed. 12 of these oral histories are accessible on the Lowcountry Digital Library including the interviews with Ruby Cornwell, Julia Craft DeCosta, Marcellus Forrest, Dr. Joseph Hoffman, Felder Hutchinson, Anna D. Kelly, Louise Mouzon, Peter Poinsette, and both interviews with J. Michael Graves and Eugene C. Hunt.
Series II: Laing School oral histories, 1981 contains two oral histories with former students of the Laing School in which they discuss their time attending the school, their lives after graduation, and their impressions of the Avery Normal Institute.
Series III: Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture oral histories, 1983-1995 contains seven oral histories with members of the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture discussing the founding of the organization and its grassroots efforts to acquire and preserve the Avery Normal Institute school buildings. There are also oral histories in this series with former students of the Avery Normal Institute and Immaculate Conception discussing their attendance at both institutions.
Dates
- Creation: July 10, 1995
Creator
- From the Collection: Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture (Organization)
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions to this collection; however, a cassette player is required to listen to the audiocassette tapes. A cassette player will be made available to researchers in our reading room.
Full Extent
From the Collection: .834 linear feet (2 Hollinger boxes, 79 audiocassettes, and 27.7 gigabytes (audio and transcripts))
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Abstract
In this interview, Herbert A. DeCosta Jr. (1923-2008), a native Charlestonian, details at first his rich family history, depicting the Craft family’s escape to England as well as their return to Savannah, GA as plantation owners. He also refers to the development of the DeCosta name and focuses in detail on his sister, Gail Spencer-DeCosta. He refers to several childhood memories and friendship developments spanning several generations and locations, mentioning in particular the attendance of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. DeCosta attended the Avery Normal Institute from first grade until graduating in 1940. Afterwards, he attended Iowa State University and received a degree in Architectural Engineering in 1944. He recalls his college experience as unpleasant pertaining to his social life as he was oftentimes discriminated against because he was Black. Upon graduating, DeCosta found work at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in Virginia, which was the only workplace he successfully applied to. He recalls returning to Charleston in 1947 and resuming work at his father’s construction company, the H.A. DeCosta Company.
The interview also inquires about several teachers and principals at Avery, such as A.W. Hoursey and Frank DeCosta. DeCosta recalls Avery’s impetus for music appreciation, which had a lasting impact on his love for operas. He strongly refutes the argument that Avery was an elitist institution that only people of a certain hue and complexion attended. He also mentions rivalries with Burke High School.
After selling the DeCosta Construction Company in 1989, DeCosta stayed active with his own consulting company. He recalls learning the construction trade from his father as a young boy. He elaborates in detail on African American tradesmen in Charleston, which had always traditionally consisted of enslaved persons or free persons of color prior to the Civil War. Therefore, he stresses that African American contractors were not that peculiar in the city, although currently numbers are in sharp decline. He mentions several construction projects he completed, such as the Avery Building after a fire in 1930, as well as 54 Montagu Street.
The interview concludes by Mr. DeCosta recalling his involvement in the local Civil Rights Movement as a member of the interracial committee. He emphasizes the rational cooperation of most whites in the community and efforts to prevent violent hostilities. He recalls student demonstrations on King Street and the boycotting of stores due to their refusal to hire African Americans, as well as the reluctance of certain high-class restaurants, such as the Francis Marion Hotel or Henry’s, to desegregate. He particularly refers to J.C. Long and Marcus Bloom, emphasizing his frustration over ethnicities discriminating against each other, particularly members of the Jewish community. Lastly, DeCosta comments on some current negative developments in the African American community since the passing of the Civil Rights laws.
The oral history is conducted by Cherisse Jones. The audio recording is missing for this oral history.
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