Help us continue to support the mission of the Avery Research Center
Member Services The Avery Institute Board provides valuable support to the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture whose mission is to collect, preserve, and promote the unique history and culture of the African diaspora, with an emphasis on Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry.
The Center is home to over 200 manuscript collections, over 6,000 printed texts, rare books and pamphlets, over 4,000 photographs and hundreds of reels of microfilm, audio/visual materials, clippings, etc. which serve as primary source materials for people researching African American history in South Carolina and beyond. The Research Center also sponsors conferences, lectures, exhibitions, and educational programs that inform the public about the African American experiences.
The Avery Research Center is located on the site of the former Avery Normal Institute, 125 Bull Street, which was founded in 1865 by the American Missionary Association. It served to educate and train African American children and youth for nearly 100 years. In 1985, the Avery Research Center was founded. The Center is expected to reopen to the public in October 2019 after the renovations are completed.
Thank you for being an Avery member! Your valuable support of the Avery Institute helps provide for first-class exhibitions, ground-breaking research and numerous public outreach programs. Join or Renew Today Join the Avery Institute today and receive the award-winning Avery Messenger magazine quarterly and remember your contributions are tax deductible.