Middleton, Ethel S., March 7, 1995

The Avery Research Center Sea Islands oral histories collection contains 50 individual oral history interviews arranged according to the sea island discussed in each oral history. Most of the oral histories were conducted by Avery Research Center employees with people who are from the Sea Islands or lived and worked in the Sea Islands while adults. The audio recordings and/or transcripts of some oral histories are missing.

A wide range of topics are discussed in these oral histories including specific aspects of life in the different Sea Islands such as foodways, children's games, education, religious life, labor and its relationship to the land and participants' family history. Other oral histories focus more institutions operating in the sea islands including the Penn Center, York W. Bailey Museum, St. James United Presbyterian Church, Bowens Island Restaurant, and Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation. There are also two audio recordings of New Jerusalem African Methodist Episcopal church services and portrait photographs of people from Wadmalaw and James Islands.

Series 1. Wadmalaw Island

Series 2. Saint Helena Island Oral Histories

Series 3. Edisto Island Oral Histories

Series 4. Johns Island Oral Histories

Series 5. Bowens Island Oral Histories

Series 6. Sol Legare Island Oral Histories

Series 7. Yonges Island Oral Histories

Series 8. Sapelo Island Oral Histories

Series 9. James Island Oral Histories