Carolyne Edwards, long time resident and founder of Quinn Research Center, talks about her uncle Alfred T. Quinn who grew up in Santa Monica and was the first African-American teacher hired in the Santa Monica School District. He was a collector and when he passed away, Carolyne Edwards and her husband inherited his collection made up of important personal items. Realizing that the items weaved a story about the community and already having retired, Carolyne and her husband, Bill Edwards established the Quinn Research Center, whose mission is to preserve and collect the history of African-Americans in Santa Monica, Venice, and in the Bay Area. The Quinn Collection is made up of Alfred T.Quinn’s personal collection, the community's collection, and the Belmar district’s collection. The Quinn Archives are located in her Mission Hills house. Contrary to the history that she was exposed to at school, this particular type of history and it’s process weaves a story for her, which is why her and her husband enjoy doing it.
