Dr. Karen Chandler, May 31, 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 31, 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. Karen Chandler begins by discussing her professional background, her education at Hampton University, and her friendship with Ron Diase and introduction to Gullah Geechee life and culture. She then discusses being hired as the director, the political and social climate of Charleston and the community around Avery, and her relationships with Lucille Whipper, Marlene O'Bryant Seabrook, and Cynthia McCottry-Smith. She also talks about her involvement in the Charleston Jazz Initiative, major programs and scholarships during her tenure including the 50th anniversary of the Avery High School closing, and other accomplishments and challenges she faced. She concludes by talking about her life and career after leaving the Avery Research Center and her thoughts 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