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46-1190: In 1978, the alumni of the Avery Normal Institute, led by Lucille Whipper , formed the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. They worked with the College of Charleston to establish the Avery Research Center in 1985 to preserve the legacy of the Avery Normal Institute and educate the broader community about the history and culture of African Americans in Charleston, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and South Carolina at large. The Avery Research Center provides access to digital and physical archival collections, offers guided tours, hosts workshops, presents lectures and performances, and features physical and digital museum exhibitions. The Avery Research Center Archives currently hold over six thousand primary- and secondary-source materials that document

92-561: A Charleston County school board race. Whipper was co-chair of the Blue Ribbon Education Committee, a group that opposed the incumbents from getting reelected. To Whipper, the incumbent school board members (Lurline Fishburne, Ray Toler, Robin Beard, and Arthur Ravenel ) threatened the future of Charleston education because they were far more concerned with politics than children's education. In addition, Whipper

138-632: A couple who separated when Whipper was young. Growing up, Whipper spent her time in North Charleston and in the Liberty Hill section of east Charleston. Whipper attended high school at the Avery Institute, an all-black high school in Charleston, South Carolina. Here, Whipper had an encounter with civil rights activism when her graduating class sought to desegregate the College of Charleston . A large group of people in her class applied to

184-622: A faculty member of the National Congress of Christian Education. In addition, Whipper was president of the Women's Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. Outside of the church and after retirement from the House of Representatives, Whipper continued her activist endeavors. In 2003, for example, Whipper founded Low Country Aid to Africa (LCAA), an organization dedicated towards raising awareness and money for Africa. LCAA

230-539: A job at the College of Charleston as Director of the Office of Human Relations and Assistant to the President, making her the first African American to hold this position. Serving under administrator Theodore Stern, Whipper led the way in developing the school's first affirmative action plan. In 1975, Whipper took a leave of absence to focus her attention back to public schooling. During this time, she worked on directing

276-558: A multimillion-dollar federal project called the Elementary and Secondary School Aid Act (ESSA). As director of ESSA, Whipper worked in collaboration with the Charleston County School District to develop school programs in the area. After two years, Whipper returned to the College of Charleston where she continued her work as Director of the Office of Human Relations and Assistant to the President. At

322-538: A previous relationship, and Lucille Whipper had one child from a previous relationship. When they got married, their families blended and they had one child together. The Whipper's sent all seven of their children to college. One of their children, Seth Whipper , followed in Whipper's footsteps and served as a representative in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Whipper's husband, Benjamin,

368-476: A private residence. When she retired in 1947, the institution was housed in a large complex with more than a hundred employees. The improvements she instituted included facilities for housing and summer camps. She also established a trade school there to train African-American women for jobs. She considered proper training a key step to overcome racial barriers in the workplace. As director of

414-411: A range of materials relevant to slavery, material culture from West Africa, and even a sweetgrass basket collection. Processed manuscript collections and other catalogued items can be searched via the College of Charleston’s Addlestone Library‘s online catalogue. The Avery Research Center’s website also features an online finding aid. Selected digitally archived materials are also available online through

460-580: The Avery Institute , a center dedicated to African American history, with the college. In politics, Whipper was the first black woman to represent a Charleston County seat in the legislature. She was also the first woman of color ever to be elected to the South Carolina General Assembly . Lucille Whipper was born on June 6, 1928, in Charleston, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Joseph Simmons and Sarah Washington,

506-540: The Freedmen’s Bureau . The school eventually became the Avery Normal Institute, the first accredited secondary school for African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina. It soon expanded to offer an important teacher education program. Initially, the school was temporarily located in several buildings appropriated by the federal government in Charleston during Reconstruction . Northern white missionaries and members of Charleston’s antebellum free Black community staffed

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552-531: The Harlem YWCA in 1914. In that position, she worked with and nurtured African-American women leaders, including Elizabeth Ross Haynes , Anna Arnold Hedgeman (whom she hired in the 1920s as membership secretary), Dorothy Height , Emma Ransom , missionary Helen Curtis, Pauli Murray , Ruth Logan Roberts , Ella Baker and Eunice Carter . When she began as director, the Harlem YWCA was located in

598-695: The Lowcountry Digital Library . Numerous digitized archival materials from Avery are also featured in online exhibitions with the Lowcountry Digital History Initiative. Events and programs at the Avery Research Center range from public lectures, workshops, film screenings, performances, annual conferences, symposia, and exhibition openings, to private group events, meetings, and presentations. Avery Research Center staff may organize and sponsor these events, or they may be arranged by an outside organization at

644-590: The University of Chicago , graduating in 1955 with a Masters of Arts degree in political science. After graduating from Talladega College, Whipper went back to Charleston where she taught social studies at public schools. Then, in 1955 (after graduating from the University of Chicago), Whipper returned to Charleston where she worked as the director of guidance services at two prominent all-black high schools: Burke High School and Bonds-Wilson High School . In

690-747: The African diaspora. Guided Tours that are free and open to the public are available from Monday through Friday. The Avery Research Center’s Archival Collections hold over six thousand primary and secondary sources, including approximately two hundred manuscript collections, varying in size from a few items to over fifty linear feet. The collections also contain over five thousand printed items, ranging from standard texts, rare books, and pamphlets to dissertations and journals; over four thousand photographs; and hundreds of reels of microfilm, VHS tapes, clipping files, and audio and video recordings in digital formats. There are also dozens of artifact collections encompassing

736-502: The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. Whipper's work and dedication to the Avery Institute played a critical role in its preservation and integration with the College of Charleston. Whipper eventually ended her career at the College of Charleston in 1981 when she retired. Whipper first entered politics in 1972 when she served as vice chairman of the Democratic Party Convention. She

782-422: The Avery Research Center in acquiring archival collections. The Avery Research Center is a small museum with several galleries that showcase permanent and changing exhibitions. Each year, the Avery Research Center staff develops exhibitions from its archival materials, art, and rare manuscript collections. The Avery Research Center also features temporary art exhibitions by artists from South Carolina and throughout

828-672: The College of Charleston or elsewhere. Events organized by the Avery Research Center staff typically focus on topics relevant to Avery Research Center’s mission of promoting education and dialogue about African-American history, culture, and contemporary issues in the Lowcountry and/or in the wider African diaspora. Event spaces in the Avery Research Center building include the McKinley Washington Auditorium, as well as various other exhibition galleries and classrooms. Avery Research Center staff members regularly update

874-466: The College of Charleston, but their efforts of desegregation were unsuccessful. After becoming a private school, the college was able to stay segregated. Although Whipper was denied (along with a large part of her graduating class) from the College of Charleston, she was accepted into Talladega College in Alabama. Here, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and sociology. Later, Whipper went to

920-565: The College of Charleston, she helped transform her old High School (the Avery Institute) into the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. With the support of a variety of members on the Charleston College Academic board and the president of the college, Theodore Stern , Whipper was able to organize the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture committee. In 1985, this committee created

966-569: The Freedmen’s Bureau, the new school building was dedicated on May 7, 1868, and named the Avery Normal Institute. Cardozo quickly expanded the school’s mission beyond primary and secondary education to include teacher training. Prior to 1919, a citywide ordinance in Charleston prohibited African Americans from teaching in all but one of the city’s Black public schools. For this reason, many Avery graduates, such as Septima Clark , taught in one-room schoolhouses all over South Carolina, especially in

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1012-659: The Programs calendar with upcoming events. The Avery Research Center staff conducts education programs on and offsite that highlight individuals, social movements, and historical events relevant to the South Carolina Lowcountry African-American history and culture through primary and secondary sources from the Avery Research Center’s archives. Lucille Whipper Lucille Simmons Whipper (June 6, 1928 - August 27, 2021)

1058-611: The South Carolina Lowcountry. The Avery Institute’s first president was the Honorable Lucille S. Whipper, a former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Charleston County . To obtain institutional support and fulfill its long-term goals, the organization chose to become affiliated with the College of Charleston. The two groups jointly sought and obtained a federal planning grant in 1981 to organize programs and explore future options. Out of

1104-589: The YWCA, Saunders testified to conditions in Harlem, especially conditions for women, at various hearings and before various commissions. In 1935, she spoke to the mayor's Commission on Conditions in Harlem, about women's work experiences with racial discrimination. In 1939, she was part of the work of the Committee on Street Corner Markets. She was also presented as a speaker at YWCAs and YMCAs in other cities. Her work

1150-655: The end of her 10-year stint in the House. In 1999, Whipper's service in office was recognized by the South Carolina state government after they decided to name a connector bridge in Charleston after her. While attending Talladega College, Whipper married her first husband, who passed away shortly after they got married. His death forced Whipper to move back to Charleston and provide for her infant son while teaching at public high schools. In 1957, Whipper married Reverend Benjamin Whipper, who later died on June 13, 1998, at 85 years old. Benjamin Whipper had 5 children from

1196-792: The history, traditions, legacies, and influences of African Americans. A school for African American students was founded in Charleston in 1865 by the New York-based American Missionary Association (AMA). The school was initially named the Tappan School in honor of New York abolitionist Lewis Tappan , a founding member of the American Missionary Association. It was soon renamed the Saxton School after Union General Rufus B. Saxton , an assistant commissioner of

1242-439: The late 1960s, Whipper and a few others jumped on the opportunity to start Operation Catch-Up, a program funded by a federal grant coming from Andrew Johnson's “War on Poverty.” Operation Catch-Up sought to tutor and mentor underserved high school students in the Charleston area. As director of this county wide program, Whipper successfully placed many high school graduates into colleges and universities. In 1972, Whipper landed

1288-444: The planning grant came the concept of a research center as a cooperative project of the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture and the College of Charleston. The College of Charleston was subsequently deeded the 123 and 125 Bull Street properties to establish the College of Charleston’s Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. In 1985, The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture

1334-661: The rural areas of the Lowcountry region surrounding Charleston. Subsequent Avery principals, such as Morrison A. Holmes, continued the school’s tradition of teacher training and classical education, though the instructors were white missionaries rather than local African Americans like the Cardozo brothers. In 1917, Avery helped establish the city’s branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The first Charleston NAACP president

1380-498: The school in a more progressive direction. Principal John F. Potts presided over Avery’s transition to a public school in 1947. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, Brown v. Board of Education , the county school board closed Avery Normal Institute and merged its students and faculty with Burke High School in 1954, citing financial reasons. The Avery Normal Institute prepared its students for professional careers and leadership roles. Avery students and teachers were often active in

1426-628: The school. Thomas W. Cardozo was the school’s first principal. After a controversy emerged from his time as an educator in New York, Francis Cardozo took over as the second principal and served from 1866 to 1868. Cardozo campaigned to construct a permanent building for the school, and he persuaded the AMA’s traveling secretary, E. P. Smith, to seek $ 10,000 from the late Reverend Charles Avery’s estate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With additional aid from

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1472-405: The site for more than two decades, when the school moved to another downtown location. In 1978, a group of Avery graduates (known as “Averyites”) and friends of Avery organized The Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. Their purpose was to obtain the former Avery Normal School buildings and establish an archives and museum dedicated to preserving African-American history and culture in

1518-475: The state’s civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, even after the school closed. For example, Avery graduates who became prominent civil rights activists included Cecelia Cabaniss Saunders , Septima Clark , J. Andrew Simmons, John Henry McCray , John H. Wrighten, Jr., Arthur J. Clement, Jr., and J. Arthur Brown. After 1954, Dr. John Palmer purchased the Avery buildings and operated Palmer Business College on

1564-529: The workplace. In addition, Whipper fought for women to get insurance coverage for mammograms. In 1992, Whipper was nominated for Speaker Pro Tempore (a top leadership post in the House), by Tim Rodgers in an attempt to send positive signals to the blacks. In a 36–86 vote, Whipper lost the race the Representative David H. Wilkins . Whipper officially stepped down from office in 1996 which marked

1610-473: Was a democrat and represented seat 109, a working class district covering parts of the East Copper area, North Charleston, and the center of the Charleston peninsula. She served for ten years where she had two major legislative contributions. She sponsored one piece of legislature that made marital rape a crime, and another piece of legislature that allowed minorities and females to be hired more easily in

1656-526: Was a prominent member of the church. He was a pastor at two Charleston churches (Charity Baptist Church and St. Matthew Baptist Church) for nearly five decades. In addition, he became a prominent member of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc where he became well aquaninted with some of the most influential baptist's in the nation. Like her husband, Whipper was also involved with the church. For example, Whipper served as

1702-536: Was also a supporter of the Circle of Influence Leadership Summit that occurred in December 2007. This summit, which was sponsored by AARP South Carolina, was an opportunity for black women to come together and find a way to solve social problems that persist in their communities. Whipper hoped that this summit would address the decrease in black women officeholders and put more black women in office. This, to Whipper,

1748-541: Was an African-American civil rights leader, and executive director of the Harlem, New York YWCA . She is best known for working against racial discrimination in wartime employment during World War II , for broader work training and opportunities for African-American women, and against police violence in Harlem. Cecelia Hayne Holloway was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1879 (though some sources give 1883, she

1794-412: Was an American Democratic Party politician who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1986 to 1996. Whipper is most well known for accomplishments in both education and politics. In the educational field, Whipper worked at two high schools before landing a job at the College of Charleston . Here, Whipper implemented an affirmative action program and played a major role in integrating

1840-415: Was established as part of the academic program of the College of Charleston. Despite delays caused by Hurricane Hugo (September 21, 1989), the grand opening of the building took place on October 6, 1990. Today the Avery Institute is a separate nonprofit organization that provides support to the Avery Research Center’s museum, education, and public history outreach programs and operations, as well as assisting

1886-412: Was eventually elected to the school board of Charleston District 20, a position she held from 1978 to 1982. Later, Whipper sought a position of greater public service, and in 1986, she became the first African American woman to be elected to a South Carolina seat in the House of Representatives. Whipper was the first women of color to ever be elected to the South Carolina General Assembly , too. Whipper

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1932-596: Was important because of the unique perspective black women bring to politics. Lucille Whipper died on Friday, August 27, 2021. Her son, Seth Whipper, said there was no underlying cause for her death. Her funeral was held on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Grace Funeral Services, located at 1947 Highway 52, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. At the time of her death, Whipper had 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 26 great-great-grandchildren. Cecelia Cabaniss Saunders Cecelia Cabaniss Saunders (1879 – February 23, 1966) sometimes written as Cecilia Cabaniss Saunders ,

1978-553: Was important to the move towards racial integration in the YWCA system in 1946. In 1939, Tuskegee Institute recognized her work with an honorary Master of Science degree. The New York Age said of Saunders' career and its impact, "When a proper history of the development of Harlem in a period from 1914 to 1947 is written, Cecilia Cabaniss Saunders will have star billing." Cecelia Holloway married twice. She married her first husband, dentist Dr. James E. Cabaniss, in August 1912; she

2024-538: Was listed in the 1880 census as an infant), daughter of James Harrison Holloway, a harness maker and school principal, and his wife Harriet Huger Holloway. She attended Avery Normal Institute , then Fisk University as an undergraduate, graduating in 1903, and pursued some graduate studies at Columbia University and the New School for Social Research . As a young woman, Saunders taught at South Carolina State University . Saunders became executive director of

2070-602: Was noted artist Edwin Harleston (who graduated from Avery in 1900). Benjamin Cox served as principal from 1915 until 1936 and his wife, Jeanette Keeble Cox, revitalized the school by adding new facilities, new courses to the curriculum, and instituting a variety of cultural improvements such as theatrical plays and musical performances. Cox was the first Black principal at Avery since Cardozo. Subsequent Avery Principals Frank DeCosta (1936–1940) and L. Howard Bennett (1941–1943) moved

2116-469: Was ultimately created because Whipper believed the media was ignoring Africa's problems, especially since the Sept. 11 attacks . This initiative has raised tens of thousands of dollars for both African children affected by AIDS and local HIV/AIDS prevention clinics. In 2006, Whipper and retired financial executive Paul Hines actively backed 4 people (Toya Green, Ruth Jordan, Gregg Meyers and Susan Simons) in

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