Ardra Whitney: Week 27 @ Avery Research Center

Hooray, It’s Women’s History Month!

Monday, March 4^th – Tuesday, March 5^th:

With the help of Graduate Assistant, Daron Calhoun II, I searched through Avery’s photographic collections for images of the Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club to include in the Women’s History Month Exhibit. During my search I discovered images taken of the clubs members in 1950 and 1995, as well as negatives and proofs from the club’s 75^th anniversary celebration in 1991. I also came across a folder with collected images pertaining to the Avery Normal Institute that contained photocopied images of Jeanette Cox, the club’s founder. According to the note on the copies, the photo came from the Edmund Drago collection. Dr. Drago is a History professor at the College of Charleston. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975, is the author of seven publications, and has developed several courses in The American Civil War, Reconstruction and World History.

Following the discovery of Mrs. Cox’s photograph, I went to Manager of Archival Services, Aaron Spelbring and asked him if he could help me in locating the collection. First we went up to the third floor storage room to look for it, but found no trace of the Drago collection. So using a shelf list, we went to the second floor where Avery’s non-circulating library books are stored with more archival collections. It just so happened that the collection was on the second floor, so I dug in. And although I did not find any photos of Ms. Cox, I did find a group of wonderful photos that were featured in Drago’s book on Avery, entitled Charleston’s Avery Center: From Education and Civil Rights to Preserving the African American Experience.

Wednesday, March 6^th – Friday, March 8^th:

Throughout the week I continued surveying the Virginia Geraty Papers. I am processing the collection at the series level using a series arrangement list Mr. Spelbring gave me. In processing the collection I am learning more about Dr. Geraty and her role as an advocate for the Gullah language. For example, Dr. Geraty wrote and produced the 1990 world premiere play of Porgy: A Gullah Version, in Charleston, SC. And in recognition of her work in the preservation of Gullah she was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of Charleston.

On Friday I continued planning for the Women’s History Month Exhibit by discussing items for inclusion with Processing Archivist, Georgette Mayo. Speaking with her about Avery’s collection on the Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club was a revelation because she was able to provide me with recommendations about how to display items from the collection; more insights on what materials to display and also suggested talking with Curator, Curtis Franks about exhibit installation.