Dr. Tamara Butler, May 29, 2025
Scope and Contents
The Director's Cut Oral History Project is a series of six video oral history interviews recorded in 2025 with current and former living directors of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. Participants discuss a wide variety of topics including their professional lives, what brought them to Avery, accomplishments and challenges from their tenure, the role the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture and Averyites from the Avery Normal Institute played in their work, and their thoughts on the impact and liberatory legacy of the Avery Research Center. More information about the specifics of each oral history can be found in the file-level abstract.
The oral histories in the collection are arranged alphabetically by last name at the file-level.
Work is ongoing to make the oral histories and transcripts accessible on the Lowcountry Digital Library.
Dates
- Creation: May 29, 2025
Access Restrictions
The preservation files of the oral history interviews are restricted, but the contents of the use files is the same.
Full Extent
From the Collection: .209 linear feet (1 narrow document box and 78.9 gigabytes (mp4 and doc files))
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Abstract
Dr. Tamara Butler begins by discussing her background as an associate professor of African American Studies and English Education at Michigan State University and her thoughts on growing up in Charleston and returning to the area throughout her life. She continues by discussing her vision for Avery, the work to secure funding for building renovations and programs, the impact of Covid-19 on Avery and the beginning of her tenure, and the role the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture and the Avery Normal Institute play in her work. She also discusses the importance of programming for youth, connecting issues facing Black Charlestonians with national and global issues, acquiring the Eugene Sloan collection, the development of the Avery Digital Classroom, and her four pillars of Avery. The oral history concludes with Dr. Butler reflecting on the liberatory legacy of Avery.
The oral history is conducted by DaNia Childress.
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