Avery Research Center Averyite oral histories
Scope and Contents
The Avery Research Center Averyite oral histories collection contains 23 oral history interviews arranged in six series according to the decade that the interviews were conducted. A majority of the oral histories were conducted by Avery Research Center employees, but there are also a handful of oral histories that were done independently of the Avery Research Center and later donated that are included in this collection. Within each series, the oral histories are arranged alphabetically by last name. Greater detail about the contents of each oral history can be found at the file level abstract of each oral history interview. Each oral history, when available, includes a transcript and any supporting documentation like questions, notes, and interview release forms. Transcripts do not currently exist for every interview and work to create them is ongoing.
The contents of the oral histories vary greatly with the Avery Normal Institute and its impact on the interviewees' lives often being mentioned, but not always the focus. Other topics covered in the oral histories include participation in the Civil Rights Movement, careers in the military and public education, the history of Sullivan's Island, Charleston neighborhoods, social customs, and activism.
Series I: Oral History Interviews, 1976
Series II: Oral History Interviews, 1986-1987
Series III: Oral History Interviews, 1996-1997
Series IV: Oral History Interviews, 2000-2009
Series V: Oral History Interviews, 2015
Series VI: Oral History Interviews, Undated
Dates
- Creation: 1976-2009
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.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the Avery Research Center's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Avery Research Center claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Copyright is retained by the authors of these recordings, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Historical Note
Founded in 1865, the Avery Normal Institute was a school and community hub that provided education and advocacy for the growing Charleston African American community and trained Black Charlestonians for professional careers and leadership roles. It operated in this role until the school's closure in 1954. This collection of oral histories brings together interviews with Averyites (students, graduates, teachers, and descendents of the Avery Normal Institute) to allow interviewees the opportunity to talk about their time at the school as well as their professional and personal lives after their attendance.
Full Extent
.209 linear feet (1 half Hollinger box, 23 audiocassettes, 1 videocassette, and 2.62 gigabytes (audio and transcripts))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Avery Research Center Averyite oral histories collection brings together individual oral histories conducted by Avery Research Center employees with Averyites (students, graduates, teachers, and descendants) to discuss their time at the Avery Normal Institute and their professional and personal lives after they attended the school. A handful of oral histories with Averyites that were donated to the Avery Research Center, but not conducted by Avery Research Center employees, are also included in this collection. Beyond life and education at the Avery Normal Institute, the oral histories document a wide variety of topics including participation in the Civil Rights Movement, careers in the military and public education, the history of Sullivan's Island, social customs, activism.
Arrangement
- Oral History Interviews, 1976
- Oral History Interviews, 1985-1986
- Oral History Interviews, 1996-1997
- Oral History Interviews, 2000-2009
- Oral History Interviews, 2015
- Oral History Interviews, Undated
Processing Information
Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported the processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid.
Subject
- Avery Normal Institute -- Alumna and Alumnae (Organization)
Genre / Form
Topical
- African American business enterprises
- African American educators -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African American soldiers
- African Americans -- Civil rights -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African Americans -- Education -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- African Americans -- Sea Islands -- Social life and customs
- African Americans -- South Carolina -- Charleston -- Social life and customs
- Bridge clubs
- Gullahs
- Title
- Inventory of Avery Research Center Averyite oral histories, 1976-2009 AMN 1193
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Nate Hubler
- Date
- July 2025
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English
- Sponsor
- Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported the processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid.
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