Behind The Archive’s Director, Avery Daniels

Avery Daniels, photo taken by Mr. Harwood

Who is Avery Daniels?

Avery Daniels is a 2006 graduate of South Carolina State University, where he majored in history. He currently serves as the archives director of the university.

Before becoming the archives director, Daniels held many titles; from a member of the Marching 101 to a U.S. Marine.

Daniels, an Orangeburg native, graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School in 1996. After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps. During boot camp he fractured is wrist, after injuring himself Daniels was sent home on a temporary retirement.

Shortly after being sent home on temporary retirement Daniels was in a car accident, which caused injury to the same wrist. With another injury to his wrist, he was unable to return to the military.

“I guess God had a different plan for me,” Daniels said.

Avery Daniels in the Marching 101

When Daniels attended SC State, he was a non-traditional student who actively participated in the Marching 101 band. When he started working with the band he was the water boy. Later, he approached the director at the time, expressing his interest in participating in the band.

Before joining the Marching 101, he never played an instrument. From 2003 to 2006, Daniels was a tuba player in the band.

Tuba, trumpet, and percussion was the only option Daniels to play. “I had some friends that played tuba, so I was like let me go with these guys,” said Daniels

Two years off from school, Daniels went to the University of South Carolina to obtain his master’s degree in library and information science.

Since graduating SC State, Daniels have held many jobs at the university; equipment manager for the Marching 101 and Academic Administrator Assistant.

In 2012, he received a job offer from Alabama A&M University, but it was too late. Daniels had already signed a contract at SC State to be the archives director making him the 4^th archives director at the university.

This story is part of a three-part series, read the other stories; Lets Get to Know Thomas E. Miller and What Happened to Miller Hall.