ENGL 111: African American Education (Lewis): The Avery Institute

This online exhibition explores over one hundred and fifty years of Avery history—from its origins as a school for Black Charlestonians starting in 1865, to its current form as a center for promoting the history and culture of the African diaspora with an emphasis on Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Published May 2016.

Established in 1985, the mission of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is to evaluate, acquire, organize, preserve, and make available materials that promote the unique history and culture of the African diaspora, with emphasis on Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry, and beyond. The Avery Research Center opened in 1990 and became affiliated with the College of Charleston due to efforts undertaken by alumnae of the Avery Normal Institute. The Center accessions printed material, manuscript records, and artifacts that supports its mission and has collections from the 19th century to the present, with collections documenting Civil Rights, labor movements, education, and church records.