Alphonso W. Hoursey papers

Collection

Identifier: AMN 1156

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Alphonso W. Hoursey Collection consists of memorabilia which Mr. Hoursey collected during his life as an educator and an involved community member at the Avery Normal Institute and then Burke High School. The collection consists of plaques, books, and other materials which are representative of his career in education. Series 1 consists of the documents pertaining to Hoursey’s life, as well as two plaques commemorating his tenure as Vice President of the Charleston County Teachers Federal Credit Union, and as a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Series 2 consists of photographs, plaques and related documents pertaining to his career as an educator. Series 3 contains several documents related to the Simmons family. Series 4 contains a newspaper discussing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Charleston.

Dates

Creation: 1907-1972
Creation: Majority of material found within 1940-1960

Creator

Hoursey, Alphonso H., 1900-1977 (Person)

Access Restrictions

No access 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.

Biographical Note

Alphonso W. Hoursey was born in July 1900, and raised in Charleston. He attended the Avery Normal Institute. From there, he went on to attend Fisk University, where he received a B.A. in Sociology in 1926. He returned to the Avery Institute to teach Latin, French, English, Psychology, and Education. He received his M.A. Ed. from the University of Michigan, 1941. He organized the HI-Y Club, which promoted a well-rounded, “Protestant ethic” lifestyle for the fifteen young male students who were members at any given time. Hoursey highly emphasized good sportsmanship as a key aspect of the HI-Y Club. When Avery closed in 1954, Hoursey moved on to Burke High School where he taught until his retirement in 1966. He passed away on August 29, 1977.

References

mccachern. "Alphonso W. Hoursey." Billion Graves. September 30, 2014. Accessed December 7, 2021. https://billiongraves.com/grave/Alphonso-W-Hoursey/10781783

Drago, Edmund L. Initiative, Paternalism and Race Relations: Charleston’s Avery Normal Institute. University of Georgia Press: Athens, GA. 1990.

Extent

3.71 linear feet (4 archival boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Alphonso W. Hoursey was born in 1900 and raised in Charleston. He attended the Avery Normal Institute, Fisk University (1926), and the University of Michigan. After graduating from Fisk, Hoursey taught at the Avery Normal Institute, organized the HI-Y Club, which prioritized a ‘Protestant Ethic’ and sportsmanship. With Avery’s closure in 1954, Hoursey went to teach at Burke High School until his retirement in 1966. This collection of memorabilia of Hoursey highlights his career as an educator in the Black Charleston community. This collection of documents, photographs, and plaques.