McCottry-Smith, Cynthia, May 16, 2012
Scope and Contents
The Dart Library Oral History Project contains five oral histories conducted by Dr. Robert Chase, the Avery Research Center's public historian. They document individuals' experiences of using the library at Dart Hall and attending dances in the second floor of the Hall. Participants also discuss family history, their memories of Jim Crow segregration in Charleston, and their professional careers.
The oral histories are arranged alphabetically by last name at the file level. More information about the content of each oral history can be found in the abstract at the file level of each interview.
Dates
- Creation: May 16, 2012
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Full Extent
From the Collection: .209 linear feet (1 half Hollinger box, 5 CDs)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Abstract
Cynthia McCottry-Smith discusses growing up in Charleston on Mary Street, her parents, including her father's position as a Pullman porter and her mother's position as a teacher, her father's relationship with A. Phillip Randolph and the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters Union, her childhood neighborhood, memories of Jim Crow segregation, growing up during the Great Depression, and her attendance at Immaculate Conception and the Avery Normal Institute. She then begins to discuss her memories of Dart Hall and Susan Dart Butler, the types of books she liked to read as a child, and the dances she attended in the upstairs of the library. She continues by discussing her time at Bennett College, her return to Charleston and the start of her teaching career, how attending and teaching at the Avery Normal Institute impacted her own teaching style, teaching during the Civil Rights Movement, her relationship with Septima Clark, and then concludes with thoughts on why Dart Library is so important.
The oral history is conducted by Dr. Robert Chase.
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