Eugene C. Hunt papers

The Hunt papers contain materials that document his life and research materials he collected for Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture and the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, but which were not turned over in his lifetime and whose provenance is uncertain.

Biographical materials include vitae, photographs, tributes, data on his education at Talladega and elsewhere, a natal horoscope (1972), correspondence regarding his musical engagements (1940s-19505), Charleston social life (1950s - 1990s), exchanges with prisoners (1980s - 1990s, no date), papers regarding real estate, estates of deceased family members, etc. Burke High School materials include copies of the school paper, “The Parvenu”, historical materials (1937 - 19505), printed teaching matter, some data regarding students, student programs, exhibits, etc. College of Charleston papers include materials documenting Hunt’s teaching career, with data on Black Student Unions, a 1985 College desegregation report, a College Affirmative Action Plan, copies of the “The Sour Grapevine,” an “underground” College newspapers, data regarding the College’s attempt to administer the Old Slave Mart Museum, and carbon of a letter from Merton Simpson.

Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture and Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture materials include Some founding documents, minutes of meetings, correspondence, donor forms, printed matter, brochures, photographs, content data from some historical programs given at Avery, including significant photocopied material regarding African American education in the area.

Research materials found in his papers, and whose provenance is unknown, include the following: a ribbon of the Young Cherubim Society; photos of tombstones in the Brotherly Association, Friendly Union, Humane and Friendly, and Unity and Friendship cemeteries, Charleston; paper fan, Mickey Funeral Home, with image of “Dr. W.E.B. DuBois & Sight Seeing Party, Charleston, SC, March 1917.” Photo of Edwin A. Harleston, and post card of Edwin G. Harleston & Son Funeral Home; Francis Cardozo materials; photocopied materials regarding Rev. John Dart, and Alonzo J. Ransier; Thomas E. Miller funeral program; data regarding Brown Fellowship Society, Aurorian Coterie, and Leslie Uggams. Materials documenting Nell Houston Chisolm include data on Nell, Houston and Chisolm families, her husband Frank R. Chisolm, and reports regarding textiles she donated to Avery.

Avery Institute related materials include photos (1920s and undated) of students; photocopies of early publications with lists of students, 1939 Averite annual, scrapbook materials of Mildred Drayton (later Jefferson), Louise Mouzon materials, which also include data on the Mouzon family, early twentieth century programs regarding Social and musical events at Centenary Church and Remley’s Point; and Julia Wilson Pope family materials.

YWCA materials include the script Hunt wrote for the organization’s anniversary, with some materials regarding its history, especially a legal case between integrated and segregated organizations vying for official “Y” affiliation in Charleston.

Materials on various organizations with which Hunt was affiliated include information on various local African American organizations and fraternities; the Martin Luther King, Jr. Interdenominational Choir, the Gaylords, a men’s club, theatrical and acting societies, production companies working on documentaries, on which Hunt advised, City of Charleston Black Portrait Study Committee, and information on the 1990 Charleston production of Porgy and Bess working with the musical group the Choraliers.

There is a series on cultural programs Hunt attended or participated in, and a series of scripts and essays by other writers.

The final series is a compilation of forms, inventories and lists of mostly research materials that once were part of the collection, many having been removed for separate cataloguing, or reunited with other collections from which they came.