Sherry A. Suttles collection of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina

The collection contains materials gathered and produced by Sherry Suttles and other entities during the 2000s. Included are brief materials relating to Suttles personal and professional life. The bulk of the collection's materials are derived from the establishment of several community based organizations within the Town of Atlantic Beach, with the Atlantic Beach Historical Society being the largest. Numerous records document the Town of Atlantic Beach administration, including the Offices of the Mayor and Town Manager, along with materials from the Town Council. Also, records and photographs document the history of BikeFest, the Town's major annual event, (1999-2000). A smaller series contains general subject files as it relates to Atlantic Beach, Horry County and surrounding South Carolina areas.

The collection is divided into four series:

1. Biographical Materials holds Suttles personal and professional documents; biographical sketches, correspondence, legal documents, and photographs. Also, included are materials pertaining to her business, Suttles Management Associates, Inc. (SMS, Inc.). Of note is Suttles' consulting involvement with Freewoods Foundation and Farm, a "living farm museum" based on agricultural practices of African-Americans post-Civil War.

2. Atlantic Beach Organizations contains materials (administrative documents, correspondence, grant proposals, financial statements, event flyers, newspaper articles, exhibit text panels, and audio/visual materials) regarding organizations originated solely or in part by Suttles to facilitate historic preservation and the promotion of tourism in Atlantic Beach, including the organizations of Restore Historic Atlantic Beach (ReHAB), the Atlantic Beach Chamber of Commerce and mainly, the Atlantic Beach Historical Society, Inc. (ABHS), in which Suttles was founder and president. Several aspects of note includes Suttles' initiatives, "The Colored Wall Oral History Project," and the subsequent exhibit, "The Black Pearl: A Celebration of the Times and Lives of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina." In addition to recordings of the orals histories of former Atlantic Beach residents, this series holds the text panels used in the exhibit. Of note are materials pertaining to the establishment of a historical marker (2005) for Atlantic Beach. Among the numerous events held in Atlantic Beach, the ABHS organized a 40th Anniversary six month celebration commemorating the town's incorporation (1966). Highlights include materials from a trip to American Beach, and remembrance of MaVynee Betsch, aka "The Beach Lady." Betsch sought to preserve her families' beach community on Amelia Island established in 1935, and was the inspiration for Suttles to preserve the history of Atlantic Beach. Included in "Preserving Memories..." are original documents pertaining to Atlantic Beach properties and businesses owned by Esau Jenkins, a civil rights activist from Johns Island, South Carolina.

3. The Town of Atlantic Beach series comprises documents (administrative documents, correspondence, statistical reports, meeting agendas and minutes, financial statements, court documents, event flyers, and newspaper articles) regarding the town government with sub-series on the Office of the Mayor (mainly Irene Armstrong); the Town Manager (specifically Carolyn Montgomery); the Housing Authority of Atlantic Beach; and Town Council featuring a section regarding the contentious election involving Suttles and several other candidates. BikeFest, Atlantic Beach's annual event is represented through organizational documents (correspondence, memorandums, event programs, newspaper articles and photographs) from 1999-2006. Suttles' ABHS partnered with the Town for several years featuring special events for children and adults, namely Children's BikeFest (2002).

4. Subject Files includes mostly magazine and/or newspaper articles regarding various topics relating directly/indirectly to Atlantic Beach and Suttles interests.