Dart Library Oral History Project
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: 2012
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
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.
Historical Note
Dart Hall Library was founded by Susan Dart Butler in 1927 after she recognized Black Charlestonians' need for a public library. She opened a reading room in Dart Hall, the former Charleston Industrial Normal Institute building which had been founded by her father, Rev. John L. Dart. Dart Hall Library predated the Charleston Free Library by four years. The reading room contained two tables, twelve chairs, and built-in bookshelves and was open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday every week from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. When the Charleston Free Library was established in 1931, with financial support from the Julius Rosenwald Foundation, Dart Hall became an official library branch of the segregated library system and expanded into three rooms of the building. It opened to the public on July 31, 1931. It was one of three branches for African Americans with the other two including one small library on Edisto Island and one at St. Peter’s Catholic School on Society Street. Dart Hall Library was a community hub for Black Charlestonians with a dance hall on the second floor of the building and frequent events taking place in addition to the reading rooms.
In 1952, Charleston County purchased Dart Hall and began to use the entire building as a library. In 1962, Dart Hall was replaced by a new building at 1067 King Street and was named the John L. Dart Library in honor of Rev. Dart. The original Dart Hall building was razed in 1969.
Full Extent
.209 linear feet (1 half Hollinger box, 5 CDs)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Dart Library Oral History Project contains five oral histories documenting 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 history project was undertaken by the Avery Research Center as part of the 85th anniversary commemoration of the John L. Dart Library. The oral histories were conducted by Dr. Robert Chase, the Avery Research Center's Public Historian.
Arrangement
The oral histories in the Dart Library Oral History Project are arranged alphabetically by last name at the file level. Transcripts for each oral history can be found at the item level beneath the corresponding file.
Processing Information
Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported the processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid.
Subject
- John L. Dart Library (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- Dart Hall (Charleston, S.C.) (Organization)
- Avery Normal Institute (Organization)
- Davis, Norma Hoffman, 1940- (Person)
- Fields, Richard E., 1920-2023 (Person)
- McCottry-Smith, Cynthia (Person)
- Richardson, Irene, 1913-2015 (Person)
- Stewart, Hazel Murray (Person)
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Inventory of Dart Library Oral History Project, 2012 AMN 1200
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Nate Hubler
- Date
- November 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