The Greenville Cultural Exchange Center (GCEC) is an African-American history museum and culture center dedicated to the preservation of African-American history in the Greenville area.
Ruth Ann Butler, a former history teacher with Greenville County School System, founded GCEC in 1987. The inspiration for the center occurred after Ms. Butler visited the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Impressed with Knoxville 's effort to preserve its African-American history, she envisioned a similar concept for Greenville. Ms. Butler, an avid researcher and history buff, has always been concerned about the absence of African-American history in most textbooks. While teaching history to seventh graders, she always collected history of African-Americans to supplement her lesson plans. Ms. Butler, the president and founder of GCEC, often states, "if we do not take our history, collect and preserve it, eventually it will be forgotten and destroyed".
Ms. Butler began following her dream by organizing a steering committee consisting of City and County officials, business and community leaders, ministers, and other interested persons. During the first meeting held in Ms. Butler's home, she shared what she had seen in Knoxville and presented her concept for Greenville. On January 27, 1986, GCEC received its 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service and on August 22, 1987 the Greenville Cultural Exchange Center officially opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
GCEC includes a non-circulating research library open to visiting scholars, students, and the general public. There is also a resource center to exhibit the achievements of local African-Americans dating back to the late 1900's.
Everyone is encouraged to visit the Center and take advantage of its library resources and view the displays during visiting hours. |
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