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    <title>The Avery Messenger Podcast</title>
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    <description>The Avery Messenger is a continuation of the work of former executive director Karen Chandler who created the Avery Messenger in 2003. The newsletter coincided with the 50th Anniversary planning of the last class of the Avery High School. Prior to the Avery Messenger the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture published the Avery Bulletin as its outreach arm to inform on the progress securing 125 Bull St and reaching former Averyites. As we embark on the next chapter of the Avery Research Center we are reaching in our past to bring to you the present work on the legacy built on a spirt that would not die in discussing Black education, preservation and documenting present issues in the Charleston</description>
    <copyright>© 2026 D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </copyright>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:19:08 -0400</pubDate>
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    <link>https://avery.charleston.edu</link>
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      <title>The Avery Messenger Podcast</title>
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    <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
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    <itunes:summary>The Avery Messenger is a continuation of the work of former executive director Karen Chandler who created the Avery Messenger in 2003. The newsletter coincided with the 50th Anniversary planning of the last class of the Avery High School. Prior to the Avery Messenger the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture published the Avery Bulletin as its outreach arm to inform on the progress securing 125 Bull St and reaching former Averyites. As we embark on the next chapter of the Avery Research Center we are reaching in our past to bring to you the present work on the legacy built on a spirt that would not die in discussing Black education, preservation and documenting present issues in the Charleston</itunes:summary>
    <itunes:subtitle>The Avery Messenger is a continuation of the work of former executive director Karen Chandler who created the Avery Messenger in 2003.</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>D'Aujai Kelley </itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>childressd@cofc.edu</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
    <itunes:complete>No</itunes:complete>
    <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    <item>
      <title>Preserving Family Legacy: The Hoffman Papers and the Power of Archives| Avery Messager Episode 9 </title>
      <itunes:episode>9</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>9</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Preserving Family Legacy: The Hoffman Papers and the Power of Archives| Avery Messager Episode 9 </itunes:title>
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        <![CDATA[<p><br></p><p>Every family has a story—but not every story is preserved.</p><p>In this season finale of <strong>The Avery Messenger</strong>, we explore the importance of <strong>family archives, Black history preservation, and archival donations</strong> through a conversation with donor <strong>Norma Hoffman Davis</strong> and organizer <strong>Dana Campbell</strong>.</p><p><br>The episode begins with a reflection on Season One before diving into the remarkable Hoffman Family Papers, documenting generations of Charleston history, education, community leadership, and the enduring legacy of the Avery Normal Institute. Listeners also hear practical advice on organizing family records, preserving photographs and letters, and ensuring future generations can access their history.</p><p>Whether you're interested in genealogy, Black history, archives, museums, or preserving your own family's legacy, this episode offers valuable insight into why personal collections matter.</p><p><strong><br>Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Avery Research Center — <a href="https://findingaids.library.charleston.edu/repositories/3">https://findingaids.library.charleston.edu/repositories/3</a></li><li>Avery exhibitions — <a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/exhibitions/">https://avery.charleston.edu/exhibitions/</a></li><li>Season One episodes — <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfFS65DPyFgitCmIbxKTDmTKox9P6G07">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfFS65DPyFgitCmIbxKTDmTKox9P6G07<br></a><br></li></ul><p><strong><br>Guest:</strong></p><ul><li>Norma Hoffman Davis</li><li>Dana Campbell<p></p></li></ul><p>Time Stamps / Chapters: </p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome &amp; Season One Recap</p><p>00:04 Introducing Conversations with Our Donors</p><p>06:02 The Hoffman Family's Charleston Roots</p><p>10:06 The Avery Normal Institute Legacy</p><p>14:01 Music, Fisk University &amp; Family Connections</p><p>19:05 Growing Up Around Avery</p><p>22:48 College, Civil Rights &amp; Leaving Charleston</p><p>30:53 Why Preserving Family Archives Matters</p><p>34:22 Organizing the Hoffman Collection</p><p>38:12 Letters That Tell a Family Story</p><p>42:05 Advice for Preserving Your Family History</p><p>43:21 Avery Announcements &amp; Season Wrap-Up</p><p>45:19 Season One Farewell</p><p><br></p>]]>
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        <![CDATA[<p><br></p><p>Every family has a story—but not every story is preserved.</p><p>In this season finale of <strong>The Avery Messenger</strong>, we explore the importance of <strong>family archives, Black history preservation, and archival donations</strong> through a conversation with donor <strong>Norma Hoffman Davis</strong> and organizer <strong>Dana Campbell</strong>.</p><p><br>The episode begins with a reflection on Season One before diving into the remarkable Hoffman Family Papers, documenting generations of Charleston history, education, community leadership, and the enduring legacy of the Avery Normal Institute. Listeners also hear practical advice on organizing family records, preserving photographs and letters, and ensuring future generations can access their history.</p><p>Whether you're interested in genealogy, Black history, archives, museums, or preserving your own family's legacy, this episode offers valuable insight into why personal collections matter.</p><p><strong><br>Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Avery Research Center — <a href="https://findingaids.library.charleston.edu/repositories/3">https://findingaids.library.charleston.edu/repositories/3</a></li><li>Avery exhibitions — <a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/exhibitions/">https://avery.charleston.edu/exhibitions/</a></li><li>Season One episodes — <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfFS65DPyFgitCmIbxKTDmTKox9P6G07">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfFS65DPyFgitCmIbxKTDmTKox9P6G07<br></a><br></li></ul><p><strong><br>Guest:</strong></p><ul><li>Norma Hoffman Davis</li><li>Dana Campbell<p></p></li></ul><p>Time Stamps / Chapters: </p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome &amp; Season One Recap</p><p>00:04 Introducing Conversations with Our Donors</p><p>06:02 The Hoffman Family's Charleston Roots</p><p>10:06 The Avery Normal Institute Legacy</p><p>14:01 Music, Fisk University &amp; Family Connections</p><p>19:05 Growing Up Around Avery</p><p>22:48 College, Civil Rights &amp; Leaving Charleston</p><p>30:53 Why Preserving Family Archives Matters</p><p>34:22 Organizing the Hoffman Collection</p><p>38:12 Letters That Tell a Family Story</p><p>42:05 Advice for Preserving Your Family History</p><p>43:21 Avery Announcements &amp; Season Wrap-Up</p><p>45:19 Season One Farewell</p><p><br></p>]]>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:19:04 -0400</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
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      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>2738</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p><br></p><p>Every family has a story—but not every story is preserved.</p><p>In this season finale of <strong>The Avery Messenger</strong>, we explore the importance of <strong>family archives, Black history preservation, and archival donations</strong> through a conversation with donor <strong>Norma Hoffman Davis</strong> and organizer <strong>Dana Campbell</strong>.</p><p><br>The episode begins with a reflection on Season One before diving into the remarkable Hoffman Family Papers, documenting generations of Charleston history, education, community leadership, and the enduring legacy of the Avery Normal Institute. Listeners also hear practical advice on organizing family records, preserving photographs and letters, and ensuring future generations can access their history.</p><p>Whether you're interested in genealogy, Black history, archives, museums, or preserving your own family's legacy, this episode offers valuable insight into why personal collections matter.</p><p><strong><br>Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Avery Research Center — <a href="https://findingaids.library.charleston.edu/repositories/3">https://findingaids.library.charleston.edu/repositories/3</a></li><li>Avery exhibitions — <a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/exhibitions/">https://avery.charleston.edu/exhibitions/</a></li><li>Season One episodes — <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfFS65DPyFgitCmIbxKTDmTKox9P6G07">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfFS65DPyFgitCmIbxKTDmTKox9P6G07<br></a><br></li></ul><p><strong><br>Guest:</strong></p><ul><li>Norma Hoffman Davis</li><li>Dana Campbell<p></p></li></ul><p>Time Stamps / Chapters: </p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome &amp; Season One Recap</p><p>00:04 Introducing Conversations with Our Donors</p><p>06:02 The Hoffman Family's Charleston Roots</p><p>10:06 The Avery Normal Institute Legacy</p><p>14:01 Music, Fisk University &amp; Family Connections</p><p>19:05 Growing Up Around Avery</p><p>22:48 College, Civil Rights &amp; Leaving Charleston</p><p>30:53 Why Preserving Family Archives Matters</p><p>34:22 Organizing the Hoffman Collection</p><p>38:12 Letters That Tell a Family Story</p><p>42:05 Advice for Preserving Your Family History</p><p>43:21 Avery Announcements &amp; Season Wrap-Up</p><p>45:19 Season One Farewell</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
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    <item>
      <title> Ancestors, Archives, and Black Resistance</title>
      <itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>8</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title> Ancestors, Archives, and Black Resistance</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p><br>Podcast Description: </p><p>African spirituality, ancestral traditions, Black archives, and civil rights history all intersect in this powerful episode of the Avery Messenger Podcast.</p><p>Avery Messager hosts speak with Dr. Kameelah L. Martin about African spiritual traditions, ancestor reverence, Vodou, hoodoo, colonization, and reconnecting with African diasporic practices. Later, historian and archivist Dr. Bobby Donaldson shares his journey into public history, civil rights scholarship, and preserving African American history through archives, education, and activism.</p><p><br>This episode is for anyone interested in African diaspora studies, Black history, spirituality, civil rights history, archives, education, and cultural preservation.</p><p>The Avery Research Center’s symposium, June 9-11, 2026: <em>Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give</em>: <em>Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History</em> <em>and Education: </em><a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/">https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/</a> </p><p><em>The South Carolina Black History Bugle</em></p><p><a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/">https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/<br></a><br></p><p>View our Mellon Foundation sponsored event on African Spirituality featuring Dr. Kameelah L. Martin and Shantrelle P. Lewis, hosted by D’Aujai Kelley: <br><em>Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora: </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ"><em>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ</em></a><em> <br></em><br></p><p>Do you have suggestions for Season 2 of the <em>Avery Messenger? </em>You can contact Ms. DaNia Childress at: <a href="mailto:childressd@cofc.edu">childressd@cofc.edu</a> </p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction to the Avery Messenger Podcast</p><p>00:01 Meet Dr. Kameelah L. Martin</p><p>00:02 What African Spirituality Means</p><p>00:03 Dr. Martin’s Journey Into African Spiritual Traditions</p><p>00:05 Differences Between Ifá, Vodou, and Hoodoo</p><p>00:05 How Colonization Impacted African Spiritual Practices</p><p>00:10 African Spirituality and Social Media Visibility</p><p>00:11 Reconnecting With Ancestors and the African Diaspora</p><p>00:14 Misconceptions About African Spiritual Systems</p><p>00:19 What Ancestor Veneration Really Means</p><p>00:22 Advice for Exploring African Spirituality Respectfully</p><p>00:32 Introduction to Dr. Bobby Donaldson</p><p>00:39 Building Civil Rights Archives and Historical Preservation</p><p>00:46 Religion, Education, and the Civil Rights Movement</p><p>00:52 Black Resistance Through Education, Art, and Archives</p><p>01:00 Mentorship, Archives, and Preserving Black History</p><p>01:10 Symposium Announcement and Closing Remarks</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p>#AfricanSpirituality #BlackHistory #CivilRightsHistory</p><p><br></p><p>Keywords:</p><p>African spirituality explained</p><p>ancestor veneration traditions</p><p>Vodou and hoodoo differences</p><p>African diaspora spirituality</p><p>Black history preservation</p><p>civil rights archives</p><p>African American public history</p><p>Black resistance history</p><p>Black church civil rights movement</p><p>preserving Black archives</p><p>public history and activism</p><p>African spiritual traditions</p><p>Black cultural preservation</p><p>civil rights scholarship</p><p>African American archives</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p><br>Podcast Description: </p><p>African spirituality, ancestral traditions, Black archives, and civil rights history all intersect in this powerful episode of the Avery Messenger Podcast.</p><p>Avery Messager hosts speak with Dr. Kameelah L. Martin about African spiritual traditions, ancestor reverence, Vodou, hoodoo, colonization, and reconnecting with African diasporic practices. Later, historian and archivist Dr. Bobby Donaldson shares his journey into public history, civil rights scholarship, and preserving African American history through archives, education, and activism.</p><p><br>This episode is for anyone interested in African diaspora studies, Black history, spirituality, civil rights history, archives, education, and cultural preservation.</p><p>The Avery Research Center’s symposium, June 9-11, 2026: <em>Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give</em>: <em>Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History</em> <em>and Education: </em><a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/">https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/</a> </p><p><em>The South Carolina Black History Bugle</em></p><p><a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/">https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/<br></a><br></p><p>View our Mellon Foundation sponsored event on African Spirituality featuring Dr. Kameelah L. Martin and Shantrelle P. Lewis, hosted by D’Aujai Kelley: <br><em>Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora: </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ"><em>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ</em></a><em> <br></em><br></p><p>Do you have suggestions for Season 2 of the <em>Avery Messenger? </em>You can contact Ms. DaNia Childress at: <a href="mailto:childressd@cofc.edu">childressd@cofc.edu</a> </p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction to the Avery Messenger Podcast</p><p>00:01 Meet Dr. Kameelah L. Martin</p><p>00:02 What African Spirituality Means</p><p>00:03 Dr. Martin’s Journey Into African Spiritual Traditions</p><p>00:05 Differences Between Ifá, Vodou, and Hoodoo</p><p>00:05 How Colonization Impacted African Spiritual Practices</p><p>00:10 African Spirituality and Social Media Visibility</p><p>00:11 Reconnecting With Ancestors and the African Diaspora</p><p>00:14 Misconceptions About African Spiritual Systems</p><p>00:19 What Ancestor Veneration Really Means</p><p>00:22 Advice for Exploring African Spirituality Respectfully</p><p>00:32 Introduction to Dr. Bobby Donaldson</p><p>00:39 Building Civil Rights Archives and Historical Preservation</p><p>00:46 Religion, Education, and the Civil Rights Movement</p><p>00:52 Black Resistance Through Education, Art, and Archives</p><p>01:00 Mentorship, Archives, and Preserving Black History</p><p>01:10 Symposium Announcement and Closing Remarks</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p>#AfricanSpirituality #BlackHistory #CivilRightsHistory</p><p><br></p><p>Keywords:</p><p>African spirituality explained</p><p>ancestor veneration traditions</p><p>Vodou and hoodoo differences</p><p>African diaspora spirituality</p><p>Black history preservation</p><p>civil rights archives</p><p>African American public history</p><p>Black resistance history</p><p>Black church civil rights movement</p><p>preserving Black archives</p><p>public history and activism</p><p>African spiritual traditions</p><p>Black cultural preservation</p><p>civil rights scholarship</p><p>African American archives</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:14:00 -0400</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/2def9e04/6aa973da.mp3" length="104173427" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>4336</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p><br>Podcast Description: </p><p>African spirituality, ancestral traditions, Black archives, and civil rights history all intersect in this powerful episode of the Avery Messenger Podcast.</p><p>Avery Messager hosts speak with Dr. Kameelah L. Martin about African spiritual traditions, ancestor reverence, Vodou, hoodoo, colonization, and reconnecting with African diasporic practices. Later, historian and archivist Dr. Bobby Donaldson shares his journey into public history, civil rights scholarship, and preserving African American history through archives, education, and activism.</p><p><br>This episode is for anyone interested in African diaspora studies, Black history, spirituality, civil rights history, archives, education, and cultural preservation.</p><p>The Avery Research Center’s symposium, June 9-11, 2026: <em>Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give</em>: <em>Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History</em> <em>and Education: </em><a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/">https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/</a> </p><p><em>The South Carolina Black History Bugle</em></p><p><a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/">https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/<br></a><br></p><p>View our Mellon Foundation sponsored event on African Spirituality featuring Dr. Kameelah L. Martin and Shantrelle P. Lewis, hosted by D’Aujai Kelley: <br><em>Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora: </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ"><em>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ</em></a><em> <br></em><br></p><p>Do you have suggestions for Season 2 of the <em>Avery Messenger? </em>You can contact Ms. DaNia Childress at: <a href="mailto:childressd@cofc.edu">childressd@cofc.edu</a> </p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction to the Avery Messenger Podcast</p><p>00:01 Meet Dr. Kameelah L. Martin</p><p>00:02 What African Spirituality Means</p><p>00:03 Dr. Martin’s Journey Into African Spiritual Traditions</p><p>00:05 Differences Between Ifá, Vodou, and Hoodoo</p><p>00:05 How Colonization Impacted African Spiritual Practices</p><p>00:10 African Spirituality and Social Media Visibility</p><p>00:11 Reconnecting With Ancestors and the African Diaspora</p><p>00:14 Misconceptions About African Spiritual Systems</p><p>00:19 What Ancestor Veneration Really Means</p><p>00:22 Advice for Exploring African Spirituality Respectfully</p><p>00:32 Introduction to Dr. Bobby Donaldson</p><p>00:39 Building Civil Rights Archives and Historical Preservation</p><p>00:46 Religion, Education, and the Civil Rights Movement</p><p>00:52 Black Resistance Through Education, Art, and Archives</p><p>01:00 Mentorship, Archives, and Preserving Black History</p><p>01:10 Symposium Announcement and Closing Remarks</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p>#AfricanSpirituality #BlackHistory #CivilRightsHistory</p><p><br></p><p>Keywords:</p><p>African spirituality explained</p><p>ancestor veneration traditions</p><p>Vodou and hoodoo differences</p><p>African diaspora spirituality</p><p>Black history preservation</p><p>civil rights archives</p><p>African American public history</p><p>Black resistance history</p><p>Black church civil rights movement</p><p>preserving Black archives</p><p>public history and activism</p><p>African spiritual traditions</p><p>Black cultural preservation</p><p>civil rights scholarship</p><p>African American archives</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Black Foodways and Culture: The History, Resistance, and Future of Food</title>
      <itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>7</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Black Foodways and Culture: The History, Resistance, and Future of Food</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/2138cab0</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Podcast Description: </p><p>Black foodways are more than cuisine—they’re culture, resistance, and history. In this episode, we explore how food has shaped Black identity across generations and why it still matters today.</p><p>From the role of food in the civil rights movement to the ongoing fight for food justice and cultural recognition, this conversation breaks down how Black food traditions have survived, evolved, and are now being reclaimed.</p><p>Whether you're interested in food history, culture, or social impact, this episode offers a deeper understanding of how what we eat connects to who we are.</p><p><br></p><p>Chef Amethyst Ganaway: Website: waterwhippin.com</p><p>Instagram: @thizzg</p><p>Facebook: @chefamethyst</p><p>Alison Hall Kibbe: Assistant Professor of African American Studies, College of                   Charleston</p><p>Website: alisonkibbe.com </p><p><br></p><p>Suggested readings on Black Foodways: </p><p>Cooking the Gullah Way Morning, Noon, &amp; Night and Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way, by Sallie Ann Robinson.</p><p>If I Can Cook/You Know God Can by Ntozake Shange.</p><p>Vibration Cooking: or The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor</p><p>The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis.</p><p><br></p><p>The Avery Research Center three-day symposium: </p><p> “Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give: Celebrating Forty Years of Preserving Black History and Education” focused on Black education and the preservation of Black History through archives and community engagement, at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The symposium registration link is provided in our Show Notes.<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/ </a></p><p><br></p><p><b>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle Celebration with Susana M. Morris, author of "Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler April 16, 2026</b></p><p>Zoom link  <a href="https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865">https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865 </a></p><p><br></p><p>Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora </p><p>Streaming live on the Avery Research Center YouTube Channel and in person </p><p><br></p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p>00:12:19 – Food as resistance and cultural survival</p><p>00:13:00 – Preserving Black culture through foodways</p><p>00:13:25 – Food in civil rights and Black Power movements</p><p>00:14:00 – Why food reveals hidden cultural contributions</p><p>00:15:21 – The future of Black foodways</p><p>00:16:30 – Reclaiming Black food culture today</p><p>00:17:27 – Misconceptions about Black Southern food</p><p>00:18:35 – Black agriculture and land access challenges</p><p>00:20:01 – What makes a “decent meal”</p><p>00:21:00 – Essential seasonings every kitchen needs</p><p>00:22:34 – Influential chefs, scholars, and writers</p><p>00:25:32 – Upcoming cookbook and food projects</p><p>00:27:30 – Closing thoughts and announcements</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Podcast Description: </p><p>Black foodways are more than cuisine—they’re culture, resistance, and history. In this episode, we explore how food has shaped Black identity across generations and why it still matters today.</p><p>From the role of food in the civil rights movement to the ongoing fight for food justice and cultural recognition, this conversation breaks down how Black food traditions have survived, evolved, and are now being reclaimed.</p><p>Whether you're interested in food history, culture, or social impact, this episode offers a deeper understanding of how what we eat connects to who we are.</p><p><br></p><p>Chef Amethyst Ganaway: Website: waterwhippin.com</p><p>Instagram: @thizzg</p><p>Facebook: @chefamethyst</p><p>Alison Hall Kibbe: Assistant Professor of African American Studies, College of                   Charleston</p><p>Website: alisonkibbe.com </p><p><br></p><p>Suggested readings on Black Foodways: </p><p>Cooking the Gullah Way Morning, Noon, &amp; Night and Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way, by Sallie Ann Robinson.</p><p>If I Can Cook/You Know God Can by Ntozake Shange.</p><p>Vibration Cooking: or The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor</p><p>The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis.</p><p><br></p><p>The Avery Research Center three-day symposium: </p><p> “Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give: Celebrating Forty Years of Preserving Black History and Education” focused on Black education and the preservation of Black History through archives and community engagement, at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The symposium registration link is provided in our Show Notes.<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/ </a></p><p><br></p><p><b>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle Celebration with Susana M. Morris, author of "Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler April 16, 2026</b></p><p>Zoom link  <a href="https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865">https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865 </a></p><p><br></p><p>Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora </p><p>Streaming live on the Avery Research Center YouTube Channel and in person </p><p><br></p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p>00:12:19 – Food as resistance and cultural survival</p><p>00:13:00 – Preserving Black culture through foodways</p><p>00:13:25 – Food in civil rights and Black Power movements</p><p>00:14:00 – Why food reveals hidden cultural contributions</p><p>00:15:21 – The future of Black foodways</p><p>00:16:30 – Reclaiming Black food culture today</p><p>00:17:27 – Misconceptions about Black Southern food</p><p>00:18:35 – Black agriculture and land access challenges</p><p>00:20:01 – What makes a “decent meal”</p><p>00:21:00 – Essential seasonings every kitchen needs</p><p>00:22:34 – Influential chefs, scholars, and writers</p><p>00:25:32 – Upcoming cookbook and food projects</p><p>00:27:30 – Closing thoughts and announcements</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:02:27 -0400</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/2138cab0/e72f4ded.mp3" length="46147592" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>1919</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Podcast Description: </p><p>Black foodways are more than cuisine—they’re culture, resistance, and history. In this episode, we explore how food has shaped Black identity across generations and why it still matters today.</p><p>From the role of food in the civil rights movement to the ongoing fight for food justice and cultural recognition, this conversation breaks down how Black food traditions have survived, evolved, and are now being reclaimed.</p><p>Whether you're interested in food history, culture, or social impact, this episode offers a deeper understanding of how what we eat connects to who we are.</p><p><br></p><p>Chef Amethyst Ganaway: Website: waterwhippin.com</p><p>Instagram: @thizzg</p><p>Facebook: @chefamethyst</p><p>Alison Hall Kibbe: Assistant Professor of African American Studies, College of                   Charleston</p><p>Website: alisonkibbe.com </p><p><br></p><p>Suggested readings on Black Foodways: </p><p>Cooking the Gullah Way Morning, Noon, &amp; Night and Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way, by Sallie Ann Robinson.</p><p>If I Can Cook/You Know God Can by Ntozake Shange.</p><p>Vibration Cooking: or The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor</p><p>The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis.</p><p><br></p><p>The Avery Research Center three-day symposium: </p><p> “Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give: Celebrating Forty Years of Preserving Black History and Education” focused on Black education and the preservation of Black History through archives and community engagement, at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The symposium registration link is provided in our Show Notes.<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/ </a></p><p><br></p><p><b>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle Celebration with Susana M. Morris, author of "Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler April 16, 2026</b></p><p>Zoom link  <a href="https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865">https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865 </a></p><p><br></p><p>Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora </p><p>Streaming live on the Avery Research Center YouTube Channel and in person </p><p><br></p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p>00:12:19 – Food as resistance and cultural survival</p><p>00:13:00 – Preserving Black culture through foodways</p><p>00:13:25 – Food in civil rights and Black Power movements</p><p>00:14:00 – Why food reveals hidden cultural contributions</p><p>00:15:21 – The future of Black foodways</p><p>00:16:30 – Reclaiming Black food culture today</p><p>00:17:27 – Misconceptions about Black Southern food</p><p>00:18:35 – Black agriculture and land access challenges</p><p>00:20:01 – What makes a “decent meal”</p><p>00:21:00 – Essential seasonings every kitchen needs</p><p>00:22:34 – Influential chefs, scholars, and writers</p><p>00:25:32 – Upcoming cookbook and food projects</p><p>00:27:30 – Closing thoughts and announcements</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why Archives Matter: The William &amp; Ellen Craft Legacy and Black Style</title>
      <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>6</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Why Archives Matter: The William &amp; Ellen Craft Legacy and Black Style</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/ecd2169e</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Archives help preserve the stories that history almost loses. In this episode, we explore personal archives, the William and Ellen Craft legacy, and how <em>Superfine: Tailoring Black Style</em> connects fashion, resistance, and Black history.</p><p><br>Hosted by the Avery Research Center, this conversation brings together Georgette Mayo, Dr. Monica L. Miller, Julia Ellen Craft Davis, and Ronni Craft Robinson. The episode looks at why archives matter, how family collections shape public history, and what it means to see the Craft family story featured in a major museum exhibition.</p><p><br>This episode is for anyone interested in archives, African American history, family legacy, Black style, and the power of preservation. It is also especially relevant for listeners caring for personal collections at home and educators looking for compelling ways to teach history.</p><p>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p><br>Chapters / Timestamps</p><ul><li><br>00:00:00 Welcome and episode overview</li><li>00:01:15 Caring for your personal archive at home</li><li>00:03:11 Brown Bag Lunch Talk and episode setup</li><li>00:03:33 The William and Ellen Craft collection at Avery</li><li>00:05:15 Guest introductions and Monica L. Miller’s background</li><li>00:07:48 Start of the donor conversation</li><li>00:08:06 What Zora Neale Hurston’s archive teaches about preservation</li><li>00:11:20 How Monica L. Miller begins archival research</li><li>00:13:58 Research, exhibitions, and curatorial inflection points</li><li>00:16:11 Why the Craft family story mattered in <em>Superfine</em></li><li>00:19:14 How the Craft family learned about the Met exhibition</li><li>00:23:00 What attending the exhibition meant to the family</li><li>00:33:25 Teaching younger generations the Craft story</li><li>00:34:46 The foundation’s focus on archives, education, and scholarships</li><li>00:36:35 Why this history matters for young learners</li><li>00:38:52 Future exhibitions and projects</li><li>00:40:49 Closing thanks and credits<p></p></li></ul><p><br>Submission link: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform<br></a><br></p><p><br>Dating Journal: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1<br></a><br></p><p><br></p><p>Avery Research Center Blog:<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/</a> </p><p>Avery Research Center Finding aid: AMN 1102: Craft and Crum families papers:<a href="https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176"> https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176</a> </p><p>Selected items Craft and Crum families papers on the Lowcountry Digital Library:<a href="https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%255Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%255D%255B%255D=Craft+and+Crum+Families,+1780-2007&amp;q=Craft+and+Crum+families"> https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%5Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%5D%5B%5D=Craft+and+Crum+Families%2C+1780-2007&amp;q=Craft+and+Crum+families</a>+ </p><p><strong>Books:</strong> <em>Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. </em>Duke University Press, 2009.</p><p>Exhibition catalog: <em>Superfine: Tailoring Black Style</em>: <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style"><em> https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style</em></a><em> <br></em><br></p><p>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle with the Craft Family descendants and author Ilyon Woo:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&amp;t=4s"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&amp;t=4s</a> </p><p><br></p><p><br>YouTube Tags:</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft, family archives, personal archives, Black history, African American history, Monica L. Miller, Superfine Tailoring Black Style, black dandyism, Avery Research Center, archival preservation, preserving family history, cultural legacy, Met exhibition, Black style, Ellen Craft, William Craft</p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p><br>#WilliamAndEllenCraft #Archives #BlackHistory</p><p><br>Keywords:</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft</p><p><br>family archives preservation</p><p><br>personal archive tips</p><p><br>archival preservation at home</p><p><br>Black history archives</p><p><br>African American archives</p><p><br>Monica L. Miller</p><p><br>Superfine Tailoring Black Style</p><p><br>Black dandyism history</p><p><br>preserving family history</p><p><br>Avery Research Center</p><p><br>Ellen Craft disguise</p><p><br>material culture research</p><p><br>archives and cultural legacy</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft legacy</p><p><br></p><p><br>Reel 1:</p><p><strong><br>Why Archives Matter More Than You Think<br></strong><br></p><p><br>Your story matters. 📚</p><p><br>Archives aren’t just about famous writers or historical figures. They’re about <strong>families, memories, and the people who came before us</strong>. Personal archives help us understand where we come from and how that history shapes the future.</p><p><br>Knowing our history can strengthen us, guide us, and remind us of our place in the larger story.</p><p><br>✨ Preserve the past. Empower the future.</p><p><br>#archives #familyhistory #historymatters #preservehistory #oralhistory #legacy #storytelling #historylovers</p><p><br></p><p><br>Reel 2:</p><p><strong><br>History Isn’t Just the Past — It’s Still Living<br></strong><br></p><p><br>History isn’t just something we read in books. It’s <strong>alive through the people who carry those legacies today</strong>.</p><p><br>Meeting descendants of figures like <strong>Frederick Douglass and Cab Calloway</strong> is a powerful reminder that history continues through families, stories, and the work people are doing right now.</p><p><br>Through storytelling, especially with children, these histories of <strong>enslavement, resistance, and self-liberation</strong> remain powerful and meaningful for new generations.</p><p><br>Because legacy isn’t just about the past.<br>It’s about what we do with it today.</p><p><br>#blackhistory #frederickdouglass #legacy #familyhistory #blackstudies #livinghistory #storytelling #preservehistory #historymatters</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Archives help preserve the stories that history almost loses. In this episode, we explore personal archives, the William and Ellen Craft legacy, and how <em>Superfine: Tailoring Black Style</em> connects fashion, resistance, and Black history.</p><p><br>Hosted by the Avery Research Center, this conversation brings together Georgette Mayo, Dr. Monica L. Miller, Julia Ellen Craft Davis, and Ronni Craft Robinson. The episode looks at why archives matter, how family collections shape public history, and what it means to see the Craft family story featured in a major museum exhibition.</p><p><br>This episode is for anyone interested in archives, African American history, family legacy, Black style, and the power of preservation. It is also especially relevant for listeners caring for personal collections at home and educators looking for compelling ways to teach history.</p><p>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p><br>Chapters / Timestamps</p><ul><li><br>00:00:00 Welcome and episode overview</li><li>00:01:15 Caring for your personal archive at home</li><li>00:03:11 Brown Bag Lunch Talk and episode setup</li><li>00:03:33 The William and Ellen Craft collection at Avery</li><li>00:05:15 Guest introductions and Monica L. Miller’s background</li><li>00:07:48 Start of the donor conversation</li><li>00:08:06 What Zora Neale Hurston’s archive teaches about preservation</li><li>00:11:20 How Monica L. Miller begins archival research</li><li>00:13:58 Research, exhibitions, and curatorial inflection points</li><li>00:16:11 Why the Craft family story mattered in <em>Superfine</em></li><li>00:19:14 How the Craft family learned about the Met exhibition</li><li>00:23:00 What attending the exhibition meant to the family</li><li>00:33:25 Teaching younger generations the Craft story</li><li>00:34:46 The foundation’s focus on archives, education, and scholarships</li><li>00:36:35 Why this history matters for young learners</li><li>00:38:52 Future exhibitions and projects</li><li>00:40:49 Closing thanks and credits<p></p></li></ul><p><br>Submission link: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform<br></a><br></p><p><br>Dating Journal: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1<br></a><br></p><p><br></p><p>Avery Research Center Blog:<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/</a> </p><p>Avery Research Center Finding aid: AMN 1102: Craft and Crum families papers:<a href="https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176"> https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176</a> </p><p>Selected items Craft and Crum families papers on the Lowcountry Digital Library:<a href="https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%255Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%255D%255B%255D=Craft+and+Crum+Families,+1780-2007&amp;q=Craft+and+Crum+families"> https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%5Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%5D%5B%5D=Craft+and+Crum+Families%2C+1780-2007&amp;q=Craft+and+Crum+families</a>+ </p><p><strong>Books:</strong> <em>Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. </em>Duke University Press, 2009.</p><p>Exhibition catalog: <em>Superfine: Tailoring Black Style</em>: <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style"><em> https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style</em></a><em> <br></em><br></p><p>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle with the Craft Family descendants and author Ilyon Woo:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&amp;t=4s"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&amp;t=4s</a> </p><p><br></p><p><br>YouTube Tags:</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft, family archives, personal archives, Black history, African American history, Monica L. Miller, Superfine Tailoring Black Style, black dandyism, Avery Research Center, archival preservation, preserving family history, cultural legacy, Met exhibition, Black style, Ellen Craft, William Craft</p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p><br>#WilliamAndEllenCraft #Archives #BlackHistory</p><p><br>Keywords:</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft</p><p><br>family archives preservation</p><p><br>personal archive tips</p><p><br>archival preservation at home</p><p><br>Black history archives</p><p><br>African American archives</p><p><br>Monica L. Miller</p><p><br>Superfine Tailoring Black Style</p><p><br>Black dandyism history</p><p><br>preserving family history</p><p><br>Avery Research Center</p><p><br>Ellen Craft disguise</p><p><br>material culture research</p><p><br>archives and cultural legacy</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft legacy</p><p><br></p><p><br>Reel 1:</p><p><strong><br>Why Archives Matter More Than You Think<br></strong><br></p><p><br>Your story matters. 📚</p><p><br>Archives aren’t just about famous writers or historical figures. They’re about <strong>families, memories, and the people who came before us</strong>. Personal archives help us understand where we come from and how that history shapes the future.</p><p><br>Knowing our history can strengthen us, guide us, and remind us of our place in the larger story.</p><p><br>✨ Preserve the past. Empower the future.</p><p><br>#archives #familyhistory #historymatters #preservehistory #oralhistory #legacy #storytelling #historylovers</p><p><br></p><p><br>Reel 2:</p><p><strong><br>History Isn’t Just the Past — It’s Still Living<br></strong><br></p><p><br>History isn’t just something we read in books. It’s <strong>alive through the people who carry those legacies today</strong>.</p><p><br>Meeting descendants of figures like <strong>Frederick Douglass and Cab Calloway</strong> is a powerful reminder that history continues through families, stories, and the work people are doing right now.</p><p><br>Through storytelling, especially with children, these histories of <strong>enslavement, resistance, and self-liberation</strong> remain powerful and meaningful for new generations.</p><p><br>Because legacy isn’t just about the past.<br>It’s about what we do with it today.</p><p><br>#blackhistory #frederickdouglass #legacy #familyhistory #blackstudies #livinghistory #storytelling #preservehistory #historymatters</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:13:14 -0400</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/ecd2169e/472f67f2.mp3" length="60325360" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>2509</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Archives help preserve the stories that history almost loses. In this episode, we explore personal archives, the William and Ellen Craft legacy, and how <em>Superfine: Tailoring Black Style</em> connects fashion, resistance, and Black history.</p><p><br>Hosted by the Avery Research Center, this conversation brings together Georgette Mayo, Dr. Monica L. Miller, Julia Ellen Craft Davis, and Ronni Craft Robinson. The episode looks at why archives matter, how family collections shape public history, and what it means to see the Craft family story featured in a major museum exhibition.</p><p><br>This episode is for anyone interested in archives, African American history, family legacy, Black style, and the power of preservation. It is also especially relevant for listeners caring for personal collections at home and educators looking for compelling ways to teach history.</p><p>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p><br>Chapters / Timestamps</p><ul><li><br>00:00:00 Welcome and episode overview</li><li>00:01:15 Caring for your personal archive at home</li><li>00:03:11 Brown Bag Lunch Talk and episode setup</li><li>00:03:33 The William and Ellen Craft collection at Avery</li><li>00:05:15 Guest introductions and Monica L. Miller’s background</li><li>00:07:48 Start of the donor conversation</li><li>00:08:06 What Zora Neale Hurston’s archive teaches about preservation</li><li>00:11:20 How Monica L. Miller begins archival research</li><li>00:13:58 Research, exhibitions, and curatorial inflection points</li><li>00:16:11 Why the Craft family story mattered in <em>Superfine</em></li><li>00:19:14 How the Craft family learned about the Met exhibition</li><li>00:23:00 What attending the exhibition meant to the family</li><li>00:33:25 Teaching younger generations the Craft story</li><li>00:34:46 The foundation’s focus on archives, education, and scholarships</li><li>00:36:35 Why this history matters for young learners</li><li>00:38:52 Future exhibitions and projects</li><li>00:40:49 Closing thanks and credits<p></p></li></ul><p><br>Submission link: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform<br></a><br></p><p><br>Dating Journal: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1<br></a><br></p><p><br></p><p>Avery Research Center Blog:<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/</a> </p><p>Avery Research Center Finding aid: AMN 1102: Craft and Crum families papers:<a href="https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176"> https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176</a> </p><p>Selected items Craft and Crum families papers on the Lowcountry Digital Library:<a href="https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%255Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%255D%255B%255D=Craft+and+Crum+Families,+1780-2007&amp;q=Craft+and+Crum+families"> https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%5Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%5D%5B%5D=Craft+and+Crum+Families%2C+1780-2007&amp;q=Craft+and+Crum+families</a>+ </p><p><strong>Books:</strong> <em>Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. </em>Duke University Press, 2009.</p><p>Exhibition catalog: <em>Superfine: Tailoring Black Style</em>: <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style"><em> https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style</em></a><em> <br></em><br></p><p>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle with the Craft Family descendants and author Ilyon Woo:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&amp;t=4s"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&amp;t=4s</a> </p><p><br></p><p><br>YouTube Tags:</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft, family archives, personal archives, Black history, African American history, Monica L. Miller, Superfine Tailoring Black Style, black dandyism, Avery Research Center, archival preservation, preserving family history, cultural legacy, Met exhibition, Black style, Ellen Craft, William Craft</p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p><br>#WilliamAndEllenCraft #Archives #BlackHistory</p><p><br>Keywords:</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft</p><p><br>family archives preservation</p><p><br>personal archive tips</p><p><br>archival preservation at home</p><p><br>Black history archives</p><p><br>African American archives</p><p><br>Monica L. Miller</p><p><br>Superfine Tailoring Black Style</p><p><br>Black dandyism history</p><p><br>preserving family history</p><p><br>Avery Research Center</p><p><br>Ellen Craft disguise</p><p><br>material culture research</p><p><br>archives and cultural legacy</p><p><br>William and Ellen Craft legacy</p><p><br></p><p><br>Reel 1:</p><p><strong><br>Why Archives Matter More Than You Think<br></strong><br></p><p><br>Your story matters. 📚</p><p><br>Archives aren’t just about famous writers or historical figures. They’re about <strong>families, memories, and the people who came before us</strong>. Personal archives help us understand where we come from and how that history shapes the future.</p><p><br>Knowing our history can strengthen us, guide us, and remind us of our place in the larger story.</p><p><br>✨ Preserve the past. Empower the future.</p><p><br>#archives #familyhistory #historymatters #preservehistory #oralhistory #legacy #storytelling #historylovers</p><p><br></p><p><br>Reel 2:</p><p><strong><br>History Isn’t Just the Past — It’s Still Living<br></strong><br></p><p><br>History isn’t just something we read in books. It’s <strong>alive through the people who carry those legacies today</strong>.</p><p><br>Meeting descendants of figures like <strong>Frederick Douglass and Cab Calloway</strong> is a powerful reminder that history continues through families, stories, and the work people are doing right now.</p><p><br>Through storytelling, especially with children, these histories of <strong>enslavement, resistance, and self-liberation</strong> remain powerful and meaningful for new generations.</p><p><br>Because legacy isn’t just about the past.<br>It’s about what we do with it today.</p><p><br>#blackhistory #frederickdouglass #legacy #familyhistory #blackstudies #livinghistory #storytelling #preservehistory #historymatters</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Black Librarianship in America: A Brief History and What’s Next</title>
      <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>5</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Black Librarianship in America: A Brief History and What’s Next</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/eb33b6df</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Podcast Description:</p><p><br>Black librarianship in America has a long, overlooked history, one shaped by pioneers, segregation-era barriers, and ongoing struggles for equity and visibility. In this episode of <strong>Avery Messager</strong>, we trace key milestones in Black librarianship and explore how libraries and Black bookstores have served as sites of community, knowledge, and resistance.</p><p><br>You’ll hear from <strong>Rodney Freeman Jr.</strong>, librarian and executive producer of the documentary <strong><em>Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians</em></strong>, on why he started documenting what he calls “silent erasure” and how the public can support the film ahead of its <strong>2026 release</strong>.</p><p><br>We also sit down with <strong>Katie Mitchell</strong>, storyteller and bookseller, to discuss her debut book <strong><em>Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores</em></strong>, including why she distinguishes <strong>Black bookstores vs. Black-owned bookstores</strong>, and what her research reveals about the targeted threats Black bookstores have faced.</p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:00</strong> Welcome + Episode 5 overview (The Avery Messenger)</p><p><strong>00:33</strong> Phillis Wheatley Literary &amp; Social Club + USPS stamp unveiling</p><p><strong>01:03</strong> Remembering Ms. Tammy McCottry</p><p><strong>01:32</strong> What’s ahead: Black librarianship + Black bookstores</p><p><strong>01:54</strong> Timeline: Black librarianship pioneers (brief survey)</p><p><strong>07:40</strong> ALA 2025 report + questions about inconsistent data</p><p><strong>09:20</strong> Guest intro: Rodney Freeman Jr. + documentary overview</p><p><strong>10:09</strong> Why he created <em>Are You a Librarian?</em> (erasure + missing history)</p><p><strong>14:16</strong> Choosing interviewees + perspectives across librarianship</p><p><strong>16:21</strong> Libraries growing up + comics + representation</p><p><strong>19:22</strong> Future of libraries: AI, access, and community</p><p><strong>22:35</strong> How to support the documentary (2026 screenings + sharing)</p><p><strong>24:02</strong> Guest intro: Katie Mitchell + <em>Prose to the People</em></p><p><strong>28:09</strong> “Black bookstore” vs “Black-owned bookstore”</p><p><strong>30:00</strong> Targeted threats to Black bookstores + historical examples</p><p><strong>35:03</strong> Research process + archives</p><p><strong>35:54</strong> South Carolina spotlight + announcements + next episode teaser</p><p><br></p><p><br>Resources:</p><p>The Stacks Speaks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI</a></p><p>Phillis Wheatly Stamp Unveiling <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I</a></p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p>#BlackLibrarianship #BlackBookstores #LibraryHistory</p><p><br></p><p><br>Keywords:<br>black librarianship in america</p><p>history of black librarians</p><p>black librarians documentary</p><p>are you a librarian documentary</p><p>rodney freeman jr librarian</p><p>african american library history</p><p>diversity in librarianship report</p><p>future of libraries and AI</p><p>black bookstores history</p><p>prose to the people book</p><p>katie mitchell black bookstores</p><p>black bookstores vs black owned bookstores</p><p>banned books and black literature</p><p>libraries community building</p><p>documenting is resistance</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Podcast Description:</p><p><br>Black librarianship in America has a long, overlooked history, one shaped by pioneers, segregation-era barriers, and ongoing struggles for equity and visibility. In this episode of <strong>Avery Messager</strong>, we trace key milestones in Black librarianship and explore how libraries and Black bookstores have served as sites of community, knowledge, and resistance.</p><p><br>You’ll hear from <strong>Rodney Freeman Jr.</strong>, librarian and executive producer of the documentary <strong><em>Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians</em></strong>, on why he started documenting what he calls “silent erasure” and how the public can support the film ahead of its <strong>2026 release</strong>.</p><p><br>We also sit down with <strong>Katie Mitchell</strong>, storyteller and bookseller, to discuss her debut book <strong><em>Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores</em></strong>, including why she distinguishes <strong>Black bookstores vs. Black-owned bookstores</strong>, and what her research reveals about the targeted threats Black bookstores have faced.</p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:00</strong> Welcome + Episode 5 overview (The Avery Messenger)</p><p><strong>00:33</strong> Phillis Wheatley Literary &amp; Social Club + USPS stamp unveiling</p><p><strong>01:03</strong> Remembering Ms. Tammy McCottry</p><p><strong>01:32</strong> What’s ahead: Black librarianship + Black bookstores</p><p><strong>01:54</strong> Timeline: Black librarianship pioneers (brief survey)</p><p><strong>07:40</strong> ALA 2025 report + questions about inconsistent data</p><p><strong>09:20</strong> Guest intro: Rodney Freeman Jr. + documentary overview</p><p><strong>10:09</strong> Why he created <em>Are You a Librarian?</em> (erasure + missing history)</p><p><strong>14:16</strong> Choosing interviewees + perspectives across librarianship</p><p><strong>16:21</strong> Libraries growing up + comics + representation</p><p><strong>19:22</strong> Future of libraries: AI, access, and community</p><p><strong>22:35</strong> How to support the documentary (2026 screenings + sharing)</p><p><strong>24:02</strong> Guest intro: Katie Mitchell + <em>Prose to the People</em></p><p><strong>28:09</strong> “Black bookstore” vs “Black-owned bookstore”</p><p><strong>30:00</strong> Targeted threats to Black bookstores + historical examples</p><p><strong>35:03</strong> Research process + archives</p><p><strong>35:54</strong> South Carolina spotlight + announcements + next episode teaser</p><p><br></p><p><br>Resources:</p><p>The Stacks Speaks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI</a></p><p>Phillis Wheatly Stamp Unveiling <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I</a></p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p>#BlackLibrarianship #BlackBookstores #LibraryHistory</p><p><br></p><p><br>Keywords:<br>black librarianship in america</p><p>history of black librarians</p><p>black librarians documentary</p><p>are you a librarian documentary</p><p>rodney freeman jr librarian</p><p>african american library history</p><p>diversity in librarianship report</p><p>future of libraries and AI</p><p>black bookstores history</p><p>prose to the people book</p><p>katie mitchell black bookstores</p><p>black bookstores vs black owned bookstores</p><p>banned books and black literature</p><p>libraries community building</p><p>documenting is resistance</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/eb33b6df/074c8cee.mp3" length="36232704" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>2260</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Podcast Description:</p><p><br>Black librarianship in America has a long, overlooked history, one shaped by pioneers, segregation-era barriers, and ongoing struggles for equity and visibility. In this episode of <strong>Avery Messager</strong>, we trace key milestones in Black librarianship and explore how libraries and Black bookstores have served as sites of community, knowledge, and resistance.</p><p><br>You’ll hear from <strong>Rodney Freeman Jr.</strong>, librarian and executive producer of the documentary <strong><em>Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians</em></strong>, on why he started documenting what he calls “silent erasure” and how the public can support the film ahead of its <strong>2026 release</strong>.</p><p><br>We also sit down with <strong>Katie Mitchell</strong>, storyteller and bookseller, to discuss her debut book <strong><em>Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores</em></strong>, including why she distinguishes <strong>Black bookstores vs. Black-owned bookstores</strong>, and what her research reveals about the targeted threats Black bookstores have faced.</p><p><br>Time Stamps / Chapters:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:00</strong> Welcome + Episode 5 overview (The Avery Messenger)</p><p><strong>00:33</strong> Phillis Wheatley Literary &amp; Social Club + USPS stamp unveiling</p><p><strong>01:03</strong> Remembering Ms. Tammy McCottry</p><p><strong>01:32</strong> What’s ahead: Black librarianship + Black bookstores</p><p><strong>01:54</strong> Timeline: Black librarianship pioneers (brief survey)</p><p><strong>07:40</strong> ALA 2025 report + questions about inconsistent data</p><p><strong>09:20</strong> Guest intro: Rodney Freeman Jr. + documentary overview</p><p><strong>10:09</strong> Why he created <em>Are You a Librarian?</em> (erasure + missing history)</p><p><strong>14:16</strong> Choosing interviewees + perspectives across librarianship</p><p><strong>16:21</strong> Libraries growing up + comics + representation</p><p><strong>19:22</strong> Future of libraries: AI, access, and community</p><p><strong>22:35</strong> How to support the documentary (2026 screenings + sharing)</p><p><strong>24:02</strong> Guest intro: Katie Mitchell + <em>Prose to the People</em></p><p><strong>28:09</strong> “Black bookstore” vs “Black-owned bookstore”</p><p><strong>30:00</strong> Targeted threats to Black bookstores + historical examples</p><p><strong>35:03</strong> Research process + archives</p><p><strong>35:54</strong> South Carolina spotlight + announcements + next episode teaser</p><p><br></p><p><br>Resources:</p><p>The Stacks Speaks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI</a></p><p>Phillis Wheatly Stamp Unveiling <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I</a></p><p><br>Hashtags:</p><p>#BlackLibrarianship #BlackBookstores #LibraryHistory</p><p><br></p><p><br>Keywords:<br>black librarianship in america</p><p>history of black librarians</p><p>black librarians documentary</p><p>are you a librarian documentary</p><p>rodney freeman jr librarian</p><p>african american library history</p><p>diversity in librarianship report</p><p>future of libraries and AI</p><p>black bookstores history</p><p>prose to the people book</p><p>katie mitchell black bookstores</p><p>black bookstores vs black owned bookstores</p><p>banned books and black literature</p><p>libraries community building</p><p>documenting is resistance</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Avery Messenger Ep. 4 Book Clubs and Banned Books</title>
      <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>4</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Avery Messenger Ep. 4 Book Clubs and Banned Books</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/fa278d85</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p><br>Book clubs and banned books are shaping how communities read, learn, and push back against censorship—especially when reading becomes a shared, collective practice.</p><p><br>In this episode of <strong>Avery Messenger</strong>, hosts <strong>Georgette Mayo</strong> and <strong>D’Aujai Kelly</strong> explore the legacy and impact of Black-led reading communities, from Charleston’s longstanding <strong>Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club</strong> archives to the <strong>Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle</strong> and its 10-year milestone.</p><p><br>You’ll also hear from <strong>OlaRonke Akinmowo</strong>, founder/director of the <strong>Free Black Women’s Library</strong> in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and <strong>George M. Johnson</strong>, award-winning author of <em>All Boys Aren’t Blue</em>, on why storytelling matters—and what it takes to resist book bans and censorship.</p><p><br>Links From Podcast: </p><p>Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture website:<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu"> https://avery.charleston.edu</a> </p><p>Last Call for Proposals: “Those Who Have, Must Turn Around and Give:” Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History and Education,”<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/</a> </p><p>AMN 1031: Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club records on the Lowcountry Digital Library:<a href="https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/"> https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/</a> </p><p>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle: <em>Red Island House</em> with author Andrea Lee: YouTube link:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc</a> </p><p>Article from the National Endowment for the Arts: “Federal Date on Reading for Pleasure: All Signs Show a Slump” by Sunil Iyengar. </p><p>OlaRonke Akinmowo and The Free Black Women’s Library:<a href="https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com"> https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com</a> </p><p>Charleston City Paper article: “Activists say book bans infringe on free speech,” by Maura Hogan. Dated 3 October 2025.<a href="https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/"> https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/</a> </p><p>George M. Johnson website:<a href="https://iamgmjohnson.com"> https://iamgmjohnson.com</a> </p><p>Time Stamps / Chapters: </p><p><br></p><p>00:56 Why book clubs matter: community + critical thinking</p><p>01:46 Phillis Wheatley Literary &amp; Social Club (Avery archives)</p><p>03:30 Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle: origins + 10-year milestone</p><p>06:08 Zoom era: expanded reach + author conversations</p><p>08:18 Interview begins: OlaRonke Akinmowo + Free Black Women’s Library</p><p>14:04 From traveling library to storefront (5,000+ books)</p><p>18:08 Mutual aid in action: period pantry, free store, garden + care</p><p>22:53 Censorship + banned books: why cultural production matters</p><p>26:58 “Pretty Little Brick”: Black women writers collective + limited edition</p><p>34:08 George M. Johnson intro: <em>All Boys Aren’t Blue</em> + banned books context</p><p>36:03 Writing origins + Toni Morrison influence</p><p>41:22 Writing as liberation + chosen family + supporting youth</p><p>48:13 Book bans reality: activism, ideology, and impact</p><p>59:45 Subverting censorship: gifting books + “resource center” strategy</p><p>01:02:49 Announcements + acknowledgments + upcoming episodes</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p><br>Book clubs and banned books are shaping how communities read, learn, and push back against censorship—especially when reading becomes a shared, collective practice.</p><p><br>In this episode of <strong>Avery Messenger</strong>, hosts <strong>Georgette Mayo</strong> and <strong>D’Aujai Kelly</strong> explore the legacy and impact of Black-led reading communities, from Charleston’s longstanding <strong>Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club</strong> archives to the <strong>Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle</strong> and its 10-year milestone.</p><p><br>You’ll also hear from <strong>OlaRonke Akinmowo</strong>, founder/director of the <strong>Free Black Women’s Library</strong> in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and <strong>George M. Johnson</strong>, award-winning author of <em>All Boys Aren’t Blue</em>, on why storytelling matters—and what it takes to resist book bans and censorship.</p><p><br>Links From Podcast: </p><p>Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture website:<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu"> https://avery.charleston.edu</a> </p><p>Last Call for Proposals: “Those Who Have, Must Turn Around and Give:” Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History and Education,”<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/</a> </p><p>AMN 1031: Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club records on the Lowcountry Digital Library:<a href="https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/"> https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/</a> </p><p>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle: <em>Red Island House</em> with author Andrea Lee: YouTube link:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc</a> </p><p>Article from the National Endowment for the Arts: “Federal Date on Reading for Pleasure: All Signs Show a Slump” by Sunil Iyengar. </p><p>OlaRonke Akinmowo and The Free Black Women’s Library:<a href="https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com"> https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com</a> </p><p>Charleston City Paper article: “Activists say book bans infringe on free speech,” by Maura Hogan. Dated 3 October 2025.<a href="https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/"> https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/</a> </p><p>George M. Johnson website:<a href="https://iamgmjohnson.com"> https://iamgmjohnson.com</a> </p><p>Time Stamps / Chapters: </p><p><br></p><p>00:56 Why book clubs matter: community + critical thinking</p><p>01:46 Phillis Wheatley Literary &amp; Social Club (Avery archives)</p><p>03:30 Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle: origins + 10-year milestone</p><p>06:08 Zoom era: expanded reach + author conversations</p><p>08:18 Interview begins: OlaRonke Akinmowo + Free Black Women’s Library</p><p>14:04 From traveling library to storefront (5,000+ books)</p><p>18:08 Mutual aid in action: period pantry, free store, garden + care</p><p>22:53 Censorship + banned books: why cultural production matters</p><p>26:58 “Pretty Little Brick”: Black women writers collective + limited edition</p><p>34:08 George M. Johnson intro: <em>All Boys Aren’t Blue</em> + banned books context</p><p>36:03 Writing origins + Toni Morrison influence</p><p>41:22 Writing as liberation + chosen family + supporting youth</p><p>48:13 Book bans reality: activism, ideology, and impact</p><p>59:45 Subverting censorship: gifting books + “resource center” strategy</p><p>01:02:49 Announcements + acknowledgments + upcoming episodes</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/fa278d85/be1fdb88.mp3" length="92021652" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>3830</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p><br>Book clubs and banned books are shaping how communities read, learn, and push back against censorship—especially when reading becomes a shared, collective practice.</p><p><br>In this episode of <strong>Avery Messenger</strong>, hosts <strong>Georgette Mayo</strong> and <strong>D’Aujai Kelly</strong> explore the legacy and impact of Black-led reading communities, from Charleston’s longstanding <strong>Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club</strong> archives to the <strong>Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle</strong> and its 10-year milestone.</p><p><br>You’ll also hear from <strong>OlaRonke Akinmowo</strong>, founder/director of the <strong>Free Black Women’s Library</strong> in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and <strong>George M. Johnson</strong>, award-winning author of <em>All Boys Aren’t Blue</em>, on why storytelling matters—and what it takes to resist book bans and censorship.</p><p><br>Links From Podcast: </p><p>Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture website:<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu"> https://avery.charleston.edu</a> </p><p>Last Call for Proposals: “Those Who Have, Must Turn Around and Give:” Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History and Education,”<a href="https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/"> https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/</a> </p><p>AMN 1031: Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club records on the Lowcountry Digital Library:<a href="https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/"> https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/</a> </p><p>Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle: <em>Red Island House</em> with author Andrea Lee: YouTube link:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc</a> </p><p>Article from the National Endowment for the Arts: “Federal Date on Reading for Pleasure: All Signs Show a Slump” by Sunil Iyengar. </p><p>OlaRonke Akinmowo and The Free Black Women’s Library:<a href="https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com"> https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com</a> </p><p>Charleston City Paper article: “Activists say book bans infringe on free speech,” by Maura Hogan. Dated 3 October 2025.<a href="https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/"> https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/</a> </p><p>George M. Johnson website:<a href="https://iamgmjohnson.com"> https://iamgmjohnson.com</a> </p><p>Time Stamps / Chapters: </p><p><br></p><p>00:56 Why book clubs matter: community + critical thinking</p><p>01:46 Phillis Wheatley Literary &amp; Social Club (Avery archives)</p><p>03:30 Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle: origins + 10-year milestone</p><p>06:08 Zoom era: expanded reach + author conversations</p><p>08:18 Interview begins: OlaRonke Akinmowo + Free Black Women’s Library</p><p>14:04 From traveling library to storefront (5,000+ books)</p><p>18:08 Mutual aid in action: period pantry, free store, garden + care</p><p>22:53 Censorship + banned books: why cultural production matters</p><p>26:58 “Pretty Little Brick”: Black women writers collective + limited edition</p><p>34:08 George M. Johnson intro: <em>All Boys Aren’t Blue</em> + banned books context</p><p>36:03 Writing origins + Toni Morrison influence</p><p>41:22 Writing as liberation + chosen family + supporting youth</p><p>48:13 Book bans reality: activism, ideology, and impact</p><p>59:45 Subverting censorship: gifting books + “resource center” strategy</p><p>01:02:49 Announcements + acknowledgments + upcoming episodes</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Oral History, Archives, and Sweetgrass Traditions at the Avery Research Center</title>
      <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>3</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Oral History, Archives, and Sweetgrass Traditions at the Avery Research Center</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/5e26fc69</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p><br></p><p><strong>Hosts</strong></p><p><strong>D'Aujai Kelley</strong>  – Co-Host, <em>The Avery Messenger Podcast<br></em><strong>Georgette Mayo</strong> – Processing Archivist, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture</p><p><strong>Guests</strong></p><p><strong>Deborah Wright</strong> – Retired Reference Librarian and Administrator, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture; Former Editor of <em>The Avery Messenger</em></p><p><strong>Dr. Dale Rosengarten, Ph.D.</strong> – Scholar of Sweetgrass (Lowcountry) Basket Making; Co-Creator of <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art<br></em><br></p><p><strong><br>Contributors</strong></p><p><strong>DaNia Childress</strong> – Podcast Editor<br> Georgette Mayo<br> P.J. Kelly</p><p><strong><br>Sponsor</strong></p><p><strong>Andrew Mellon Foundation<br></strong><br></p><p><strong><br>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>This episode presents two in-depth conversations that highlight the importance of oral history, archival preservation, and cultural legacy at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.</p><p>The first segment features an oral history interview with <strong>Deborah Wright</strong>, who reflects on her upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, her academic training and international research experiences, and her long career at Avery. Wright discusses her many roles at the Center, including Reference Archivist, Director of Special Projects, Associate Director, Interim Director (briefly), and Editor of <em>The Avery Messenger</em>. She also shares the history and evolution of <em>The Avery Messenger</em> publication and emphasizes the role of oral history in preserving institutional memory.</p><p>The second segment introduces a new recurring series, <strong>“Conversations with Our Donors,”</strong> featuring <strong>Dr. Dale Rosengarten</strong>. Dr. Rosengarten discusses the history and cultural significance of Lowcountry Sweetgrass basket making, the development of the traveling exhibition <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art</em>, and her decision to donate extensive research and exhibition materials to the Avery Research Center for future scholarship and public access.</p><p><strong>Timestamped Breakdown</strong></p><p>[00:00:00 – 00:01:28] Introduction and Episode Overview<br> [00:01:28 – 00:09:03] Oral History Interview with Deborah Wright: Early Life, Museums, and Archives<br> [00:09:03 – 00:12:32] Deborah Wright’s Journey to the Avery Research Center and Roles Held<br> [00:12:32 – 00:19:54] The History and Evolution of <em>The Avery Messenger<br></em> [00:19:55 – 00:26:47] Influential Colleagues, Community Impact, and Global Connections<br> [00:26:47 – 00:32:21] Oral History Projects and Avery’s Role in Shaping Archives<br> [00:32:21 – 00:34:32] Introduction of “Conversations with Our Donors”<br> [00:34:32 – 00:41:22] Sweetgrass Basket Making: History and Significance<br> [00:41:22 – 00:53:54] The <em>Grassroots</em> Exhibition and International Research<br> [00:53:54 – 01:04:37] Challenges Facing Basket Makers and Cultural Preservation<br> [01:04:38 – 01:08:47] Donating Collections to Avery and Future Impact<br> [01:08:47 – 01:10:05] Announcements, Credits, and Closing Remarks</p><p><strong><br>Key Themes</strong></p><p>Oral history and institutional memory<br> Archival preservation and donor partnerships<br> African American cultural continuity<br> Lowcountry and Gullah Geechee traditions<br> Community-based scholarship<br> The role of the Avery Research Center in global historical research</p><p><strong><br>Keywords</strong></p><p>Avery Research Center, Avery Messenger Podcast, Deborah Wright, Dale Rosengarten, Sweetgrass baskets, Lowcountry history, African American archives, oral history, <em>Grassroots</em> exhibition, Gullah Geechee culture, Mount Pleasant South Carolina, Charleston history, archival preservation, museum education</p><p><strong><br>Hashtags</strong></p><p>#AveryResearchCenter #AveryMessengerPodcast #AfricanAmericanHistory<br> #OralHistory #SweetgrassBaskets #LowcountryHistory<br> #GullahGeechee #ArchivalPreservation #MuseumEducation<br> #BlackHistory #CulturalPreservation</p><p><strong><br>References &amp; Resources<br></strong><br></p><p><br>Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture — avery.charleston.edu<br> <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art<br></em> Podcast Archive: Apple Podcasts, iHeart, YouTube</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p><br></p><p><strong>Hosts</strong></p><p><strong>D'Aujai Kelley</strong>  – Co-Host, <em>The Avery Messenger Podcast<br></em><strong>Georgette Mayo</strong> – Processing Archivist, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture</p><p><strong>Guests</strong></p><p><strong>Deborah Wright</strong> – Retired Reference Librarian and Administrator, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture; Former Editor of <em>The Avery Messenger</em></p><p><strong>Dr. Dale Rosengarten, Ph.D.</strong> – Scholar of Sweetgrass (Lowcountry) Basket Making; Co-Creator of <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art<br></em><br></p><p><strong><br>Contributors</strong></p><p><strong>DaNia Childress</strong> – Podcast Editor<br> Georgette Mayo<br> P.J. Kelly</p><p><strong><br>Sponsor</strong></p><p><strong>Andrew Mellon Foundation<br></strong><br></p><p><strong><br>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>This episode presents two in-depth conversations that highlight the importance of oral history, archival preservation, and cultural legacy at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.</p><p>The first segment features an oral history interview with <strong>Deborah Wright</strong>, who reflects on her upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, her academic training and international research experiences, and her long career at Avery. Wright discusses her many roles at the Center, including Reference Archivist, Director of Special Projects, Associate Director, Interim Director (briefly), and Editor of <em>The Avery Messenger</em>. She also shares the history and evolution of <em>The Avery Messenger</em> publication and emphasizes the role of oral history in preserving institutional memory.</p><p>The second segment introduces a new recurring series, <strong>“Conversations with Our Donors,”</strong> featuring <strong>Dr. Dale Rosengarten</strong>. Dr. Rosengarten discusses the history and cultural significance of Lowcountry Sweetgrass basket making, the development of the traveling exhibition <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art</em>, and her decision to donate extensive research and exhibition materials to the Avery Research Center for future scholarship and public access.</p><p><strong>Timestamped Breakdown</strong></p><p>[00:00:00 – 00:01:28] Introduction and Episode Overview<br> [00:01:28 – 00:09:03] Oral History Interview with Deborah Wright: Early Life, Museums, and Archives<br> [00:09:03 – 00:12:32] Deborah Wright’s Journey to the Avery Research Center and Roles Held<br> [00:12:32 – 00:19:54] The History and Evolution of <em>The Avery Messenger<br></em> [00:19:55 – 00:26:47] Influential Colleagues, Community Impact, and Global Connections<br> [00:26:47 – 00:32:21] Oral History Projects and Avery’s Role in Shaping Archives<br> [00:32:21 – 00:34:32] Introduction of “Conversations with Our Donors”<br> [00:34:32 – 00:41:22] Sweetgrass Basket Making: History and Significance<br> [00:41:22 – 00:53:54] The <em>Grassroots</em> Exhibition and International Research<br> [00:53:54 – 01:04:37] Challenges Facing Basket Makers and Cultural Preservation<br> [01:04:38 – 01:08:47] Donating Collections to Avery and Future Impact<br> [01:08:47 – 01:10:05] Announcements, Credits, and Closing Remarks</p><p><strong><br>Key Themes</strong></p><p>Oral history and institutional memory<br> Archival preservation and donor partnerships<br> African American cultural continuity<br> Lowcountry and Gullah Geechee traditions<br> Community-based scholarship<br> The role of the Avery Research Center in global historical research</p><p><strong><br>Keywords</strong></p><p>Avery Research Center, Avery Messenger Podcast, Deborah Wright, Dale Rosengarten, Sweetgrass baskets, Lowcountry history, African American archives, oral history, <em>Grassroots</em> exhibition, Gullah Geechee culture, Mount Pleasant South Carolina, Charleston history, archival preservation, museum education</p><p><strong><br>Hashtags</strong></p><p>#AveryResearchCenter #AveryMessengerPodcast #AfricanAmericanHistory<br> #OralHistory #SweetgrassBaskets #LowcountryHistory<br> #GullahGeechee #ArchivalPreservation #MuseumEducation<br> #BlackHistory #CulturalPreservation</p><p><strong><br>References &amp; Resources<br></strong><br></p><p><br>Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture — avery.charleston.edu<br> <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art<br></em> Podcast Archive: Apple Podcasts, iHeart, YouTube</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/5e26fc69/3ee4909e.mp3" length="100854976" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>4199</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p><br></p><p><strong>Hosts</strong></p><p><strong>D'Aujai Kelley</strong>  – Co-Host, <em>The Avery Messenger Podcast<br></em><strong>Georgette Mayo</strong> – Processing Archivist, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture</p><p><strong>Guests</strong></p><p><strong>Deborah Wright</strong> – Retired Reference Librarian and Administrator, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture; Former Editor of <em>The Avery Messenger</em></p><p><strong>Dr. Dale Rosengarten, Ph.D.</strong> – Scholar of Sweetgrass (Lowcountry) Basket Making; Co-Creator of <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art<br></em><br></p><p><strong><br>Contributors</strong></p><p><strong>DaNia Childress</strong> – Podcast Editor<br> Georgette Mayo<br> P.J. Kelly</p><p><strong><br>Sponsor</strong></p><p><strong>Andrew Mellon Foundation<br></strong><br></p><p><strong><br>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>This episode presents two in-depth conversations that highlight the importance of oral history, archival preservation, and cultural legacy at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.</p><p>The first segment features an oral history interview with <strong>Deborah Wright</strong>, who reflects on her upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, her academic training and international research experiences, and her long career at Avery. Wright discusses her many roles at the Center, including Reference Archivist, Director of Special Projects, Associate Director, Interim Director (briefly), and Editor of <em>The Avery Messenger</em>. She also shares the history and evolution of <em>The Avery Messenger</em> publication and emphasizes the role of oral history in preserving institutional memory.</p><p>The second segment introduces a new recurring series, <strong>“Conversations with Our Donors,”</strong> featuring <strong>Dr. Dale Rosengarten</strong>. Dr. Rosengarten discusses the history and cultural significance of Lowcountry Sweetgrass basket making, the development of the traveling exhibition <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art</em>, and her decision to donate extensive research and exhibition materials to the Avery Research Center for future scholarship and public access.</p><p><strong>Timestamped Breakdown</strong></p><p>[00:00:00 – 00:01:28] Introduction and Episode Overview<br> [00:01:28 – 00:09:03] Oral History Interview with Deborah Wright: Early Life, Museums, and Archives<br> [00:09:03 – 00:12:32] Deborah Wright’s Journey to the Avery Research Center and Roles Held<br> [00:12:32 – 00:19:54] The History and Evolution of <em>The Avery Messenger<br></em> [00:19:55 – 00:26:47] Influential Colleagues, Community Impact, and Global Connections<br> [00:26:47 – 00:32:21] Oral History Projects and Avery’s Role in Shaping Archives<br> [00:32:21 – 00:34:32] Introduction of “Conversations with Our Donors”<br> [00:34:32 – 00:41:22] Sweetgrass Basket Making: History and Significance<br> [00:41:22 – 00:53:54] The <em>Grassroots</em> Exhibition and International Research<br> [00:53:54 – 01:04:37] Challenges Facing Basket Makers and Cultural Preservation<br> [01:04:38 – 01:08:47] Donating Collections to Avery and Future Impact<br> [01:08:47 – 01:10:05] Announcements, Credits, and Closing Remarks</p><p><strong><br>Key Themes</strong></p><p>Oral history and institutional memory<br> Archival preservation and donor partnerships<br> African American cultural continuity<br> Lowcountry and Gullah Geechee traditions<br> Community-based scholarship<br> The role of the Avery Research Center in global historical research</p><p><strong><br>Keywords</strong></p><p>Avery Research Center, Avery Messenger Podcast, Deborah Wright, Dale Rosengarten, Sweetgrass baskets, Lowcountry history, African American archives, oral history, <em>Grassroots</em> exhibition, Gullah Geechee culture, Mount Pleasant South Carolina, Charleston history, archival preservation, museum education</p><p><strong><br>Hashtags</strong></p><p>#AveryResearchCenter #AveryMessengerPodcast #AfricanAmericanHistory<br> #OralHistory #SweetgrassBaskets #LowcountryHistory<br> #GullahGeechee #ArchivalPreservation #MuseumEducation<br> #BlackHistory #CulturalPreservation</p><p><strong><br>References &amp; Resources<br></strong><br></p><p><br>Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture — avery.charleston.edu<br> <em>Grassroots: African Origins of an American Art<br></em> Podcast Archive: Apple Podcasts, iHeart, YouTube</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Saving the Avery and the Formation of the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture</title>
      <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>2</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Saving the Avery and the Formation of the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">f33dc0b0-dc76-45ce-ab33-8006ddf95cc4</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/7cd03ccd</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p><strong>Saving the Avery and the Formation of the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture<br></strong><br><strong>Hosts:<br></strong>Georgette Mayo – Processing Archivist at the Avery Research Center<br>D’Aujai Kelley – Education Coordinator, Avery Research Center</p><p><strong>Guest</strong>:<br>Dr. Millicent E. Brown – Director of Education and Exhibits, Educator, Activist, and former Education &amp; Public Programs Specialist at the Avery Research Center; Author of Another Sojourner Looking for Truth: My Journey from Civil Rights to Black Power and Beyond</p><p><strong>Contributors:<br></strong>Nate Hubler, Veer Mehta, Georgette Mayo, Sasha Bozanic, DaNia Childress, and D’Aujai Kelley<br>Sponsor:<br>Andrew W. Mellon Foundation</p><p><strong>Episode Summary<br></strong>This episode explores the final years and closure of the Avery Normal Institute in 1954, its legacy, and the transition that led to the founding of the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. The hosts discuss what happened after the school closed, the fight to preserve the historic building, and the evolution of the institution into today’s Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.<br>The episode includes an in-depth interview with Dr. Millicent E. Brown, who shares her personal connection to Avery, insights on its alumni (“Averyites”), the founding of the Avery Institute, and the challenges of preserving Black history and community memory.<br>The episode also features collection highlights showcasing early exhibits and archival materials from the Avery Research Center.</p><p><strong>Timestamped Breakdown<br></strong>[00:00:00 – 00:01:03] Introduction and Episode Overview<br> [00:01:03 – 00:01:53] Hosts' Personal Reflections<br> [00:01:53 – 00:04:40] Historical Overview: Closure of the Avery Normal Institute<br> [00:04:41 – 00:09:21] Protests, Merger Attempts, and the Fate of the Building<br> [00:09:21 – 00:14:18] Who Are Averyites? Notable Alumni &amp; Formation of the Avery Institute<br> [00:14:18 – 00:46:10] Interview with Dr. Millicent E. Brown<br> [00:46:19 – 00:49:27] Collection Highlights<br> [00:49:27 – 00:50:46] Final Clarifications &amp; Closing Remarks</p><p><strong>Key Themes<br></strong>Preserving Black educational institutions<br>Jim Crow era education<br>Civil rights activism<br>Institutional memory &amp; legacy preservation<br>Charleston’s racial and cultural history<br>The transformation from Avery School → Avery Institute → Avery Research Center</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong><br>Avery Normal Institute, Avery Research Center, African American history, Charleston history, civil rights, desegregation, Black education, Averyites, Gullah Geechee, archival preservation, NAACP, Brown v. Board, Black Power, Lowcountry history, museum education, American Missionary Association</p><p><strong>Hashtags</strong><br>#AveryNormalInstitute #AveryResearchCenter #AfricanAmericanHistory #CharlestonHistory #CivilRights #BlackEducation #Averyites #GullahGeechee #SouthCarolinaHistory #BrownvBoard #NAACP #BlackPower #BlackHistory #MuseumEducation #LowcountryHistory</p><p><strong>References &amp; Resources<br></strong>Initiative, Paternalism, and Race Relations: Charleston's Avery Normal Institute — Edmund L. Drago</p><p>South Carolina Equalization Schools — scequalizationschools.org (Research by Rebekah Dobrasko)</p><p><br>Another Sojourner Looking for Truth — Dr. Millicent E. Brown</p><p><br>Avery Research Center — avery.charleston.edu</p><p><br>Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture — averyinstitute.us</p><p><br>Podcast Archive: Apple Podcasts, iHeart, YouTube</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p><strong>Saving the Avery and the Formation of the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture<br></strong><br><strong>Hosts:<br></strong>Georgette Mayo – Processing Archivist at the Avery Research Center<br>D’Aujai Kelley – Education Coordinator, Avery Research Center</p><p><strong>Guest</strong>:<br>Dr. Millicent E. Brown – Director of Education and Exhibits, Educator, Activist, and former Education &amp; Public Programs Specialist at the Avery Research Center; Author of Another Sojourner Looking for Truth: My Journey from Civil Rights to Black Power and Beyond</p><p><strong>Contributors:<br></strong>Nate Hubler, Veer Mehta, Georgette Mayo, Sasha Bozanic, DaNia Childress, and D’Aujai Kelley<br>Sponsor:<br>Andrew W. Mellon Foundation</p><p><strong>Episode Summary<br></strong>This episode explores the final years and closure of the Avery Normal Institute in 1954, its legacy, and the transition that led to the founding of the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. The hosts discuss what happened after the school closed, the fight to preserve the historic building, and the evolution of the institution into today’s Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.<br>The episode includes an in-depth interview with Dr. Millicent E. Brown, who shares her personal connection to Avery, insights on its alumni (“Averyites”), the founding of the Avery Institute, and the challenges of preserving Black history and community memory.<br>The episode also features collection highlights showcasing early exhibits and archival materials from the Avery Research Center.</p><p><strong>Timestamped Breakdown<br></strong>[00:00:00 – 00:01:03] Introduction and Episode Overview<br> [00:01:03 – 00:01:53] Hosts' Personal Reflections<br> [00:01:53 – 00:04:40] Historical Overview: Closure of the Avery Normal Institute<br> [00:04:41 – 00:09:21] Protests, Merger Attempts, and the Fate of the Building<br> [00:09:21 – 00:14:18] Who Are Averyites? Notable Alumni &amp; Formation of the Avery Institute<br> [00:14:18 – 00:46:10] Interview with Dr. Millicent E. Brown<br> [00:46:19 – 00:49:27] Collection Highlights<br> [00:49:27 – 00:50:46] Final Clarifications &amp; Closing Remarks</p><p><strong>Key Themes<br></strong>Preserving Black educational institutions<br>Jim Crow era education<br>Civil rights activism<br>Institutional memory &amp; legacy preservation<br>Charleston’s racial and cultural history<br>The transformation from Avery School → Avery Institute → Avery Research Center</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong><br>Avery Normal Institute, Avery Research Center, African American history, Charleston history, civil rights, desegregation, Black education, Averyites, Gullah Geechee, archival preservation, NAACP, Brown v. Board, Black Power, Lowcountry history, museum education, American Missionary Association</p><p><strong>Hashtags</strong><br>#AveryNormalInstitute #AveryResearchCenter #AfricanAmericanHistory #CharlestonHistory #CivilRights #BlackEducation #Averyites #GullahGeechee #SouthCarolinaHistory #BrownvBoard #NAACP #BlackPower #BlackHistory #MuseumEducation #LowcountryHistory</p><p><strong>References &amp; Resources<br></strong>Initiative, Paternalism, and Race Relations: Charleston's Avery Normal Institute — Edmund L. Drago</p><p>South Carolina Equalization Schools — scequalizationschools.org (Research by Rebekah Dobrasko)</p><p><br>Another Sojourner Looking for Truth — Dr. Millicent E. Brown</p><p><br>Avery Research Center — avery.charleston.edu</p><p><br>Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture — averyinstitute.us</p><p><br>Podcast Archive: Apple Podcasts, iHeart, YouTube</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/7cd03ccd/a21f73b9.mp3" length="73096325" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>3032</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p><strong>Saving the Avery and the Formation of the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture<br></strong><br><strong>Hosts:<br></strong>Georgette Mayo – Processing Archivist at the Avery Research Center<br>D’Aujai Kelley – Education Coordinator, Avery Research Center</p><p><strong>Guest</strong>:<br>Dr. Millicent E. Brown – Director of Education and Exhibits, Educator, Activist, and former Education &amp; Public Programs Specialist at the Avery Research Center; Author of Another Sojourner Looking for Truth: My Journey from Civil Rights to Black Power and Beyond</p><p><strong>Contributors:<br></strong>Nate Hubler, Veer Mehta, Georgette Mayo, Sasha Bozanic, DaNia Childress, and D’Aujai Kelley<br>Sponsor:<br>Andrew W. Mellon Foundation</p><p><strong>Episode Summary<br></strong>This episode explores the final years and closure of the Avery Normal Institute in 1954, its legacy, and the transition that led to the founding of the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. The hosts discuss what happened after the school closed, the fight to preserve the historic building, and the evolution of the institution into today’s Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.<br>The episode includes an in-depth interview with Dr. Millicent E. Brown, who shares her personal connection to Avery, insights on its alumni (“Averyites”), the founding of the Avery Institute, and the challenges of preserving Black history and community memory.<br>The episode also features collection highlights showcasing early exhibits and archival materials from the Avery Research Center.</p><p><strong>Timestamped Breakdown<br></strong>[00:00:00 – 00:01:03] Introduction and Episode Overview<br> [00:01:03 – 00:01:53] Hosts' Personal Reflections<br> [00:01:53 – 00:04:40] Historical Overview: Closure of the Avery Normal Institute<br> [00:04:41 – 00:09:21] Protests, Merger Attempts, and the Fate of the Building<br> [00:09:21 – 00:14:18] Who Are Averyites? Notable Alumni &amp; Formation of the Avery Institute<br> [00:14:18 – 00:46:10] Interview with Dr. Millicent E. Brown<br> [00:46:19 – 00:49:27] Collection Highlights<br> [00:49:27 – 00:50:46] Final Clarifications &amp; Closing Remarks</p><p><strong>Key Themes<br></strong>Preserving Black educational institutions<br>Jim Crow era education<br>Civil rights activism<br>Institutional memory &amp; legacy preservation<br>Charleston’s racial and cultural history<br>The transformation from Avery School → Avery Institute → Avery Research Center</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong><br>Avery Normal Institute, Avery Research Center, African American history, Charleston history, civil rights, desegregation, Black education, Averyites, Gullah Geechee, archival preservation, NAACP, Brown v. Board, Black Power, Lowcountry history, museum education, American Missionary Association</p><p><strong>Hashtags</strong><br>#AveryNormalInstitute #AveryResearchCenter #AfricanAmericanHistory #CharlestonHistory #CivilRights #BlackEducation #Averyites #GullahGeechee #SouthCarolinaHistory #BrownvBoard #NAACP #BlackPower #BlackHistory #MuseumEducation #LowcountryHistory</p><p><strong>References &amp; Resources<br></strong>Initiative, Paternalism, and Race Relations: Charleston's Avery Normal Institute — Edmund L. Drago</p><p>South Carolina Equalization Schools — scequalizationschools.org (Research by Rebekah Dobrasko)</p><p><br>Another Sojourner Looking for Truth — Dr. Millicent E. Brown</p><p><br>Avery Research Center — avery.charleston.edu</p><p><br>Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture — averyinstitute.us</p><p><br>Podcast Archive: Apple Podcasts, iHeart, YouTube</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Legacy of the Avery Normal Institute: From Reconstruction to Civil Rights</title>
      <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>1</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Legacy of the Avery Normal Institute: From Reconstruction to Civil Rights</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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        <![CDATA[<p><strong><br></strong>In this episode of <em>The Avery Messenger Podcast</em>, host <strong>D’Aujai Kelley</strong> and co-host <strong>Georgette Mayo</strong>, Processing Archivist at the Avery Research Center, explore the story of the <strong>Avery Normal Institute</strong>, Charleston’s pioneering school for African-American education. </p><p><br>Drawing on historic records and a conversation with guest <strong>Daron Lee Calhoun II</strong> (scholar, organizer, and former Charleston County School District trustee), the episode traces Avery’s evolution from its 1865 founding through the Civil Rights era. You’ll hear how <strong>Francis Cardozo</strong>, <strong>Benjamin F. Cox</strong>, and the <strong>American Missionary Association</strong> shaped generations of educators and activists; how Avery students helped catalyze Black-led public schools in Charleston; and how its legacy endures today.</p><p><br>Calhoun also discusses the research journey behind <strong><em>The Cross, the Candle, and the Crown: A Narrative History of Morehouse College, 1867–2021</em></strong>, and examines philanthropic influence on Black education. <strong>DaNia Childress</strong> (Project Director, Mellon Grant) leads the interview segment.</p><p>Avery Normal School history: excerpts from booklet: A History of Avery Normal Institute from 1856 to 1954 by Edmund L. Drago and Eugene Hunt, PhDs.</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p><br>00:00 – Welcome &amp; introduction by D’Aujai Kelley and Georgette Mayo<br> 00:35 – Origins of Avery Normal Institute (1865–1868)<br> 01:23 – Francis Cardozo’s leadership &amp; Reconstruction headwinds<br> 02:27 – Dedication of Avery; classical, college-prep curriculum<br> 03:16 – Tuition challenges &amp; breaking pre-war racial barriers<br> 04:08 – Growth under the AMA and Principal Morrison A. Holmes<br> 04:47 – <strong>Benjamin F. Cox</strong> becomes first permanent Black principal<br> 05:29 – All-Black faculty tradition, student life, and culture<br> 06:38 – Glee Club, athletics, and rising Black intellectual life<br> 07:11 – NAACP petition for Black teachers in Charleston schools<br> 08:20 – WWII era; transition from private to public education<br> 09:41 – Closure (1954) and continuing legacy into Civil Rights<br> 10:12 – 1916 photo of Benjamin F. Cox &amp; its symbolism<br> <strong>11:11 – Guest introduction: Daron Lee Calhoun II<br></strong> 12:14 – Calhoun’s background &amp; community leadership<br> 13:07 – Researching <strong><em>The Cross, the Candle, and the Crown<br></em></strong> 14:29 – Philanthropy &amp; control: Rockefeller’s influence<br> 16:10 – Calhoun’s Morehouse story &amp; research spark<br> 17:18 – Alumni-powered fundraising at Avery &amp; Morehouse<br> 18:28 – Community role in sustaining Avery’s mission<br> 19:16 – “Elitist” perceptions &amp; classical vs. industrial education<br> 21:27 – AMA’s post-war education objectives<br> 22:09 – Rise of HBCUs &amp; teacher-training models<br> 23:14 – Avery’s pipeline to AMA-affiliated colleges<br> 25:09 – How Avery safeguarded curricular autonomy<br> 27:36 – Significance of an all-Black faculty<br> 28:31 – Why Avery remained a training school (not a college)<br> 30:01 – Avery’s lasting legacy in Black education &amp; culture<br> 30:55 – Closing &amp; thanks to the Mellon Foundation</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p><strong><br></strong>In this episode of <em>The Avery Messenger Podcast</em>, host <strong>D’Aujai Kelley</strong> and co-host <strong>Georgette Mayo</strong>, Processing Archivist at the Avery Research Center, explore the story of the <strong>Avery Normal Institute</strong>, Charleston’s pioneering school for African-American education. </p><p><br>Drawing on historic records and a conversation with guest <strong>Daron Lee Calhoun II</strong> (scholar, organizer, and former Charleston County School District trustee), the episode traces Avery’s evolution from its 1865 founding through the Civil Rights era. You’ll hear how <strong>Francis Cardozo</strong>, <strong>Benjamin F. Cox</strong>, and the <strong>American Missionary Association</strong> shaped generations of educators and activists; how Avery students helped catalyze Black-led public schools in Charleston; and how its legacy endures today.</p><p><br>Calhoun also discusses the research journey behind <strong><em>The Cross, the Candle, and the Crown: A Narrative History of Morehouse College, 1867–2021</em></strong>, and examines philanthropic influence on Black education. <strong>DaNia Childress</strong> (Project Director, Mellon Grant) leads the interview segment.</p><p>Avery Normal School history: excerpts from booklet: A History of Avery Normal Institute from 1856 to 1954 by Edmund L. Drago and Eugene Hunt, PhDs.</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p><br>00:00 – Welcome &amp; introduction by D’Aujai Kelley and Georgette Mayo<br> 00:35 – Origins of Avery Normal Institute (1865–1868)<br> 01:23 – Francis Cardozo’s leadership &amp; Reconstruction headwinds<br> 02:27 – Dedication of Avery; classical, college-prep curriculum<br> 03:16 – Tuition challenges &amp; breaking pre-war racial barriers<br> 04:08 – Growth under the AMA and Principal Morrison A. Holmes<br> 04:47 – <strong>Benjamin F. Cox</strong> becomes first permanent Black principal<br> 05:29 – All-Black faculty tradition, student life, and culture<br> 06:38 – Glee Club, athletics, and rising Black intellectual life<br> 07:11 – NAACP petition for Black teachers in Charleston schools<br> 08:20 – WWII era; transition from private to public education<br> 09:41 – Closure (1954) and continuing legacy into Civil Rights<br> 10:12 – 1916 photo of Benjamin F. Cox &amp; its symbolism<br> <strong>11:11 – Guest introduction: Daron Lee Calhoun II<br></strong> 12:14 – Calhoun’s background &amp; community leadership<br> 13:07 – Researching <strong><em>The Cross, the Candle, and the Crown<br></em></strong> 14:29 – Philanthropy &amp; control: Rockefeller’s influence<br> 16:10 – Calhoun’s Morehouse story &amp; research spark<br> 17:18 – Alumni-powered fundraising at Avery &amp; Morehouse<br> 18:28 – Community role in sustaining Avery’s mission<br> 19:16 – “Elitist” perceptions &amp; classical vs. industrial education<br> 21:27 – AMA’s post-war education objectives<br> 22:09 – Rise of HBCUs &amp; teacher-training models<br> 23:14 – Avery’s pipeline to AMA-affiliated colleges<br> 25:09 – How Avery safeguarded curricular autonomy<br> 27:36 – Significance of an all-Black faculty<br> 28:31 – Why Avery remained a training school (not a college)<br> 30:01 – Avery’s lasting legacy in Black education &amp; culture<br> 30:55 – Closing &amp; thanks to the Mellon Foundation</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:01:59 -0400</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/d3b98b93/d0dde57b.mp3" length="45017924" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:duration>1871</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p><strong><br></strong>In this episode of <em>The Avery Messenger Podcast</em>, host <strong>D’Aujai Kelley</strong> and co-host <strong>Georgette Mayo</strong>, Processing Archivist at the Avery Research Center, explore the story of the <strong>Avery Normal Institute</strong>, Charleston’s pioneering school for African-American education. </p><p><br>Drawing on historic records and a conversation with guest <strong>Daron Lee Calhoun II</strong> (scholar, organizer, and former Charleston County School District trustee), the episode traces Avery’s evolution from its 1865 founding through the Civil Rights era. You’ll hear how <strong>Francis Cardozo</strong>, <strong>Benjamin F. Cox</strong>, and the <strong>American Missionary Association</strong> shaped generations of educators and activists; how Avery students helped catalyze Black-led public schools in Charleston; and how its legacy endures today.</p><p><br>Calhoun also discusses the research journey behind <strong><em>The Cross, the Candle, and the Crown: A Narrative History of Morehouse College, 1867–2021</em></strong>, and examines philanthropic influence on Black education. <strong>DaNia Childress</strong> (Project Director, Mellon Grant) leads the interview segment.</p><p>Avery Normal School history: excerpts from booklet: A History of Avery Normal Institute from 1856 to 1954 by Edmund L. Drago and Eugene Hunt, PhDs.</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p><br>00:00 – Welcome &amp; introduction by D’Aujai Kelley and Georgette Mayo<br> 00:35 – Origins of Avery Normal Institute (1865–1868)<br> 01:23 – Francis Cardozo’s leadership &amp; Reconstruction headwinds<br> 02:27 – Dedication of Avery; classical, college-prep curriculum<br> 03:16 – Tuition challenges &amp; breaking pre-war racial barriers<br> 04:08 – Growth under the AMA and Principal Morrison A. Holmes<br> 04:47 – <strong>Benjamin F. Cox</strong> becomes first permanent Black principal<br> 05:29 – All-Black faculty tradition, student life, and culture<br> 06:38 – Glee Club, athletics, and rising Black intellectual life<br> 07:11 – NAACP petition for Black teachers in Charleston schools<br> 08:20 – WWII era; transition from private to public education<br> 09:41 – Closure (1954) and continuing legacy into Civil Rights<br> 10:12 – 1916 photo of Benjamin F. Cox &amp; its symbolism<br> <strong>11:11 – Guest introduction: Daron Lee Calhoun II<br></strong> 12:14 – Calhoun’s background &amp; community leadership<br> 13:07 – Researching <strong><em>The Cross, the Candle, and the Crown<br></em></strong> 14:29 – Philanthropy &amp; control: Rockefeller’s influence<br> 16:10 – Calhoun’s Morehouse story &amp; research spark<br> 17:18 – Alumni-powered fundraising at Avery &amp; Morehouse<br> 18:28 – Community role in sustaining Avery’s mission<br> 19:16 – “Elitist” perceptions &amp; classical vs. industrial education<br> 21:27 – AMA’s post-war education objectives<br> 22:09 – Rise of HBCUs &amp; teacher-training models<br> 23:14 – Avery’s pipeline to AMA-affiliated colleges<br> 25:09 – How Avery safeguarded curricular autonomy<br> 27:36 – Significance of an all-Black faculty<br> 28:31 – Why Avery remained a training school (not a college)<br> 30:01 – Avery’s lasting legacy in Black education &amp; culture<br> 30:55 – Closing &amp; thanks to the Mellon Foundation</p><p><br></p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Avery Normal Institute, Avery Research Center, African American education, Charleston history, HBCUs, D’Aujai Kelley, Georgette Mayo, Daron Lee Calhoun II, DaNia Childress, Francis Cardozo, Benjamin F. Cox, American Missionary Association, Reconstruction era, Black history, Civil Rights Movement, The Cross the Candle and the Crown, Morehouse College history, Rockefeller and Black education, NAACP Charleston</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
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    <item>
      <title>Intro - The Avery Messenger Podcast </title>
      <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>1</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Intro - The Avery Messenger Podcast </itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/0708a1b5</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>The Avery Messenger is a continuation of the work of former executive director Karen Chandler who created the Avery Messenger in 2003. The newsletter coincided with the 50th Anniversary planning of the last class of the Avery High School. Prior to the Avery Messenger the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture published the Avery Bulletin as its outreach arm to inform on the progress securing 125 Bull St and reaching former Averyites. As we embark on the next chapter of the Avery Research Center we are reaching in our past to bring to you the present work on the legacy built on a spirt that would not die in discussing Black education, preservation and documenting present issues in the Charleston</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>The Avery Messenger is a continuation of the work of former executive director Karen Chandler who created the Avery Messenger in 2003. The newsletter coincided with the 50th Anniversary planning of the last class of the Avery High School. Prior to the Avery Messenger the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture published the Avery Bulletin as its outreach arm to inform on the progress securing 125 Bull St and reaching former Averyites. As we embark on the next chapter of the Avery Research Center we are reaching in our past to bring to you the present work on the legacy built on a spirt that would not die in discussing Black education, preservation and documenting present issues in the Charleston</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:16:06 -0400</pubDate>
      <author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/0708a1b5/7574ca64.mp3" length="4037393" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>D'Aujai Kelley &amp; Georgette Mayo </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/uu48boOIWkr9zptrH5UPVUSEaSFp-lpHnn6ShrusXts/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jZGI0/YzY1OTk0YjVmYzU0/OTMyY2YyZDY4NTQ2/MzNmMy5qcGc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>248</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>The Avery Messenger is a continuation of the work of former executive director Karen Chandler who created the Avery Messenger in 2003. The newsletter coincided with the 50th Anniversary planning of the last class of the Avery High School. Prior to the Avery Messenger the Avery Institute of Afro American History and Culture published the Avery Bulletin as its outreach arm to inform on the progress securing 125 Bull St and reaching former Averyites. As we embark on the next chapter of the Avery Research Center we are reaching in our past to bring to you the present work on the legacy built on a spirt that would not die in discussing Black education, preservation and documenting present issues in the Charleston</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
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