CHARLESTON, SC (WCBD) — At the base of the Ravenel Bridge on the Charleston peninsula, a modest brick building harbors an assortment of things Emanuel AME church never asked for.
Thousands of gifts sent to the church following the June 17 massacre are now housed in the St. Julian Devine Community Center.
Liz Alston is tasked with organizing the “Emanuel Archives” as she calls them. “We’re trying to make sure that what we do will be appreciated by posterity,” said Alston, who has been with the church since 1974.
Alston is the official archivist of the church. She and her committee are cataloging the paintings, cards, stuffed animals, hats and even potholders sent from across the globe.
The City of Charleston lent the church the extra square footage for free after they ran out of space at their facilities on Calhoun Street.
Alston estimates they have been sent at least 100 paintings since June and thousands of cards.
Priceless portraits of the Emmanuel nine and other characterizations of the church line the walls inside the space, but Alston’s favorite is in artful message sent by inmates in Pennsylvania.
Alston and her committee are working to archive the countless artifacts that are being sent to the church continually every day. She intends to write back each of the senders. “When I see this my life becomes alive because it’s history that’s happened at the church,” said Alston, “I just want to make sure that what the people have sent to us is treated in the spirit in which it was given.”