A Tribute to the Mother Emanuel Church

Exhibit Splash Image

Memorabilia at Mother Emanuel Church

Flowers, candles, notes, and other memorabilia left outside of the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

Flowers, candles, notes, and other memorabilia left outside of the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

In the days, weeks, and months after the shooting on June 17th, 2015, visitors left vast amounts of memorabilia in front of the Mother Emanuel Church. These items included flowers, letters, candles, and artwork as well as banners, posters, and plywood boards covered in signatures and messages of support. Visitors even covered the trees and fire hydrant in front of the church in handwritten messages. As the items in front of the church continued to grow in number each day, the city closed off a lane of Calhoun Street to accommodate both the memorabilia and the crowds of visitors who came to pay their respects. 

In response, Mother Emanuel church members and leaders, City of Charleston representatives, and professionals from local archival repositories and historic institutions formed a Memorabilia Sub-Committee to organize efforts to maintain the items left in front of the church each day, as well as memorabilia sent by mail. This committee quickly coordinated a schedule of volunteers to move sensitive items indoors so they would not be damaged by the heavy rain and heat of a Charleston summer. For this reason, the memorabilia left outside of the Emanuel AME Church changed each day as visitors left new items and volunteers moved items into storage. The following images reveal how the memorabilia items changed over time, and show just a few of the thousands of visitors who came to pay their respects at the church after the shooting. Many of the items left at Mother Emanuel are currently in climate-controlled storage provided by the City of Charleston, with processing assistance provided by CALM (Charleston Archives, Libraries, and Museum Council), while church leaders determine next steps for organizing and making these materials accessible.

Emanuel AME Church cordoned off with police tape the morning after the shooting (left) and flowers left at a tree nearby before visitors were able to leave items in front of Emanuel AME Church (right), Instagram photograph by Ashley Edge, June 18, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Visitor laying flowers at the Emanuel AME Church, Instagram photograph by Breyon, July 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Emanuel AME Church from across Calhoun Street, photograph by Mary Battle, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers, balloons, and other items left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Mary Battle, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Portraits of the nine victims who died in the shooting placed among other items outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Mary Battle, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Portraits of the victims who died during the shooting by Savannah, Georgia, artist, Scott Stanton (also known as Panhandle Slim), photograph by Mary Battle, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Roses placed on the gate of Emanuel AME Church, Instagram photograph by Jaci Harper, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Cross covered in notes and prayers outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Mary Battle, June 22, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A young girl places a heart on the Emanuel AME Church at a Young Preservationists' event, photograph by Brittany Lavelle Tulla, July 8, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Emanuel AME Church after the Young Preservationists' event, photograph by Brittany Lavelle Tulla, July 8, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A woman places a heart on Emanuel AME Church at the Young Preservationists' event, photograph by Brittany Lavelle Tulla, July 8, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A young girl signs a heart at the Young Preservationists' event at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brittany Lavelle Tulla, July 8, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

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A mother comforts her young daughter outside the Emanuel AME Church two days after the shooting,  Charleston, South Carolina, June 19, 2015, courtesy of Joe Raedle / Getty Images.

Candles placed outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Meg Moughan, July 7, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Hydrangeas and ribbons left in honor of the victims of the mass shooting, Instagram photograph by Ashley Edge, June 18, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Palmetto roses and stones placed outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Meg Moughan, July 7, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Crosses hung on the fence of Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Palmetto roses and stones left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A broken heart sign left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Meg Moughan, July 7, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A tree in front of Emanuel AME Church covered in messages in response to the mass shooting, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A tree outside the Emanuel AME Church covered in messages, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
The fire hydrant and sidewalk in front of Emanuel AME Church covered in hand-written notes, photograph by Mary Battle, September 5, 2015. Charleston, South Carolina.
Messages and prayers left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

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Members of Mother Emanuel and many others gathered at the Emanuel AME Church for their first Sunday service since the shooting, Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015, courtesy of Paul Zoeller-Pool / Getty Images.

<br /> Flowers and signs left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A child's note placed outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 24, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Wooden board filled with notes to the victims, their families, and Emanuel AME Church members, photograph by Meg Moughan, July 7, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers, notes, balloons, and other items left outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Delane Chavez, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Visitors embrace outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Hunter Boone, June 21, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A poster featuring a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Base of a tree covered in messages and prayers surrounded by memorabilia outside of the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A red hat left alongside hydrangeas at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A poster left by visitors outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Messages from across the country left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A poster featuring a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King left among flowers at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

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Mourners from across the United States visited the site to pray, leave messages and flowers, and grieve in memory of the nine parishioners murdered, Charleston, South Carolina, June 22, 2015, courtesy of Andrew Lichtenstein / Getty Images.

Flowers and other items left by visitors outside the Emanuel AME Church in the weeks following the mass shooting, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Charleston City police outside Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Police tape outside of the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Flowers, balloons, and other items left at the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Messages and prayers at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A group signs one of the posters hung outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A message left on cloth at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Poster left outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Hundreds of people, including many young people, signed posters for Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV staff.
Sign demanding that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds outside of the Emanuel AME Church, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Flowers left in the gate around Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Memorabilia left along the fence and around the corner at the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Black Lives Matter and One Love posters outside the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

Black Lives Matter and One Love posters in front of the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

Visitors outside the Emanuel AME Church embrace each other, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Flowers left outside of the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Candles left outside of the Emanuel AME Church in honor of the victims of the shooting, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Balloons, flowers, letters, posters, candles, stuffed animals, and other items left outside the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Flowers with American flags left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A cross with seashells left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Poster left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Items left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Volunteers offer free water and free hugs at tables set up near the Mother Emanuel Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Visitors stop to pray and leave flowers outside the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
A young girl signs one of several posters put up in the weeks following the mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
A young visitor signs a tree filled with messages outside the Emanuel AME Church, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina, courtesy of ABC New4 WCIV-TV.
Visitors stop outside the Emanuel AME Church to pay their respects, photograph by Delane Chavez, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

Visitors stop outside the Emanuel AME Church to pay their respects, photograph by Delane Chavez, June 20, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

A child's drawing placed among flowers left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A poster with a message from Psalm 23:4 left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A large cross covered in messages and prayers left at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A child's poster with message of support to Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Visitors sign different boards created in honor of the Emanuel AME Church shooting victims, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 23, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers and other items placed at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015. Charleston, South Carolina.
Psalm 112:6 quote hanging on building, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Items left in front of the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Meg Moughan, July 7, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Sign left for visitors outside of Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 25, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
"One Love" sign left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Sign left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Sign left by visitors at the Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Toni Carrier, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers alongside the Emanuel AME Church information board, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
Heart with names of the nine victims who were killed in the Emanuel AME Church mass shooting, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A banner placed outside the Emanuel AME Church filled with messages and prayers, photograph by Meg Moughan, July 7, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.
A quiet Calhoun Street with steeple of Emanuel AME Church, photograph by Brandon Coffey, June 29, 2015, Charleston, South Carolina.

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A young girl with flowers, posters, and other signs of respect left in front of Mother Emanuel, Charleston, South Carolina, June 20, 2015, courtesy of Cem Ozdel / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images.