HSF’S “PEOPLE, PLACES AND STORIES” LECTURE SERIES PARTNERS WITH THE RALPH MARK GILBERT CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM – FEB. 16 

SAVANNAH, GA – January 31, 2023 – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will partner with the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum to present the next installment in their “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series. The tour is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 16 at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, located at 460 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.  

During the event, the museum’s Executive Director, Vaughnette Goode-Walker, and other museum docents will lead attendees on a guided tour through the poignant exhibits commemorating the fight for African American equality and civil rights in the region.

“We are honored to partner with the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum and Vaughnette Goode-Walker for this installment of our lecture series,” HSF Education & Research Associate, Kimberly Newbold said. “The people, places and stories in the museum are integral to our city and nation’s history and incredibly important stories to tell.”  

This lecture is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. Both members and non-members may RSVP for this event by visiting HSF’s website, www.myhsf.org, or by emailing Kimberly Newbold at knewbold@myhsf.org 

For more information on the “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series, contact Newbold at 912-483-7294. For information about other HSF events, please visit myhsf.org or call 912-233-7787, and follow HSF on their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling over 412 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

DAVENPORT HOUSE MUSEUM ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY PROGRAMS – SAVANNAH’S MADEIRA TRADITION AND VALENTINE’S DAY WEDDINGS IN THE GARDEN

The Davenport House Museum, with its new entrance and shop at 323 E. Broughton Street, is planning its winter public programs for February. They are Potable Gold: Savannah’s Madeira Tradition on Friday and Saturday evenings in February and Valentine’s Day Weddings in the Davenport House Garden on Feb. 14.

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SAVANNAH VOICE FESTIVAL PARTNERS WITH HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION TO HOST ‘SONGS AND STORIES IN THE SQUARES’ – DEC. 14

SAVANNAH VOICE FESTIVAL PARTNERS WITH HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION TO HOST ‘SONGS AND STORIES IN THE SQUARES’ – DEC. 14

  • LFPR
  • December 6, 2022

SAVANNAH, GA – December 6, 2022 – Savannah VOICE Festival (SVF) has partnered with another local nonprofit Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) to host a holiday season installment of “Songs and Stories in the Squares,” which will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 14 beginning at Telfair Square located at 121 Barnard St. During this free event Kimberly Newbold, HSF Education & Research Associate and James Finsie, HSF Membership & Fundraising Associate will give a brief presentation about the history of Telfair and Ellis Squares before ending in Savannah City Market with a special collaboration between SVF artists and the Esther F. Garrison School Choir. Hot chocolate will be served by Wright Square Café at Telfair Square.

“We are delighted to partner with the Savannah VOICE Festival again for this joyful community event. It will be a wonderful evening listening to holiday-themed music in our beautiful squares, all the while learning more about Savannah’s rich history.” said HSF CEO & President, Sue Adler.

SVF’s Executive Director, Chad Sonka, and Milnes VOICE Programs Co-Founder and President Maria Zouves will be joined by artists Minghao Liu, Jessica Best, and Kyaunnee Richardson, who will perform seasonal selections in each square. Artists will then join the Garrison School Choir for a selection of classic holiday music at Savannah City Market to finish the event.

“Our team at Savannah VOICE Festival knows the immense value of arts education and appreciation and strives to support all forms of creative collaboration,” said Executive Director Chad Sonka. “We are beyond excited to continue working with partners who share the same mission of community enrichment.”

Savannah VOICE Festival’s holiday outreach events are sponsored in part by Visit Savannah.

For more information about these events and how to get tickets and/or register, visit www.savannahvoicefestival.org.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 410 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.

Savannah VOICE Festival is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization in the state of Georgia. The Festival brings classical vocal excellence to the Savannah area through a two-week celebration of concerts, events, and educational presentations during the month of August and throughout the year. Focusing on arts awareness and audience development in the performing arts, it offers music from opera, musical theatre, and popular song. The Savannah VOICE Festival is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Donations are tax-deductible.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Fielding at 229-393-6457 or kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at 912-547-3100 or allie@lesleyfrancispr.com,  or Lesley Francis at 912-429-3950 or lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com.

HSF’S “PEOPLE, PLACES AND STORIES” LECTURE SERIES WELCOMES DR. CHRISTOPHER HENDRICKS – NOV. 17

SAVANNAH, GA – November 4, 2022 – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will host Dr. Christopher Hendricks, local Savannah historian and co-author of “Old Southern Cookery: Mary Randolph’s Recipes from America’s First Regional Cookbook Adapted for Today’s Kitchen”, as the next presenter in their “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series. His presentation is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 17 at the Murray C. Perlman & Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center located at 323 East Broughton Street.

Dr. Christopher Hendricks and his mother, Sue Hendricks, put a new spin on time-tested recipes from Mary Randolph’s famed 1824 bestselling cookbook, “The Virginia House-Wife” for their book, “Old Southern Cookery: Mary Randolph’s Recipes from America’s First Regional Cookbook Adapted for Today’s Kitchen.” Join HSF as Dr. Hendricks shares how they chose the best of the original early 19th century recipes to show how home cooks can use contemporary methods and ingredients to prepare delicious dishes. Dr. Hendricks will be signing copies of Old Southern Cookery the evening of the lecture – the book will be available for purchase at the Davenport House Museum Shop. All proceeds from the sale of Old Southern Cookery will be donated to Historic Savannah Foundation and the Davenport House to support their mission.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Hendricks back at HSF to discuss this beloved cookbook that he created with his mother,” HSF Education and Research Associate, Kimberly Newbold said. “This cookbook gives a peek into what recipes were made in the past and how we can adapt them to the modern kitchen of today.”

Dr. Hendrick’s lecture is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-lecture gathering at 5:30 p.m. to socialize and enjoy a glass of wine. Members may RSVP for the November 17 lecture by emailing Kim Newbold at knewbold@myhsf.org. The $15 nonmember registration fee can be paid by visiting HSF’s website, www.myhsf.org. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended.

For more information on the “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series, contact Newbold at 912-483-7294. For information about other HSF events, please visit myhsf.org or call 912-233-7787, and follow HSF on their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 420 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

HSF WELCOMES NEW YORK EXPERTS FROM ‘HINGE NEIGHBORS’ AT NOV. 1 ANNUAL MEETING

SAVANNAH, GA. – OCT. 27, 2022 – Historic Savannah Foundation is hosting its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the Savannah Repertory Theatre located at 402 East Broughton St. The evening’s speakers, Suzanne Mayer and Shawn Dunwoody from Hinge Neighbors, will speak about their efforts to reconnect the neighborhoods long separated by the Inner Loop North in Rochester, New York.

This event, which is free and open to the public, includes important updates about Historic Savannah Foundation as CEO and President Sue Adler and HSF Board Chair Austin Hill deliver the annual report, announce the election of new Board of Trustees members and officers, and recognize outgoing Board members. The annual meeting is designed to highlight HSF’s work and initiatives throughout the previous year, and acknowledge and thank HSF members and the community for their continued support of the foundation.  A light reception with refreshments in the Murray C. Perlman & Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center will follow.

As founder of Sirius Change LLC, Suzanne has led organizational change initiatives in the banking, professional, and manufacturing industries for more than 30 years. She has experience with the life cycle of organizations from startups to fully mature organizations. Presently dedicated to Hinge Neighbors, she continues to practice all those skills learned in the corporate world.  The placemaking environment of today requires constant study about zoning, design, urban planning, and it extends into corporate behavior in understanding how cities work or don’t work.  Living in an activist’s world requires a sense of humor which she shares with her Hinge co-founder, activist and artist, Shawn Dunwoody. 

Dunwoody has over 20 years of experience as a director, producer, educator, designer, and developer, and first and foremost—an artist. This experience has given him the opportunity to establish public art practices that focus on creative implementation and innovative planning. He believes bringing people from different backgrounds together can create the most progressive movements for change. Dunwoody has been a resident lecturer on public engagement in art and muralist in the United States, Europe, and South America.  As Vice-President of Hinge Neighbors, he approaches each project with an arts-focused community-building process that has been documented in many publications and videos internationally including The B1M, Forbes, NBC, The Washington Post, USA Today, PBS, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He believes that artistic place-making is about strengthening the relationship between public space, the people who live in the community, and their capacity to change where they are—physically, emotionally, and economically.

“We are honored to welcome Suzanne and Shawn as this year’s annual meeting speakers and look forward to an enlightening evening of shared knowledge, inspirational experiences and insights on historic preservation,” said HSF CEO and President Sue Adler. “Engaging with our future and current membership is something we always strive to achieve with these meetings, so we’re excited to share information from other parts of the country.”

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future. Following its formation in 1955, the nonprofit organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties – now totaling over 400 buildings – throughout several Savannah local historic districts. HSF is committed to continuing to build capacity within HSF’s operations, secure new financial resources, improve HSF’s image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts.

For more information about the annual meeting or HSF, please visit www.myHSF.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION FEATURES LECTURE ON “SAVANNAH’S HISTORIC CEMETERIES”

SAVANNAH, GA – October 4, 2022 – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will focus on Savannah’s historic cemeteries as we approach Halloween in America’s most haunted city.  Sam Beetler II, director of the City of Savannah Cemeteries Division, will update audiences on this fascinating topic at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at HSF’s headquarters, 321 E York St.

Beetler will focus on caring for city-owned cemeteries and the importance of monument preservation. He has spent the past ten years preserving, restoring, and archiving the monuments and structures of Savannah’s cemeteries.

“People don’t usually think about cemeteries when the topic of preservation is discussed, however, cemeteries can tell us a lot about history just by the monuments and placement of them in the city,’ said HSF Education and Research Associate, Kimberly Newbold. “The city of Savannah is fortunate to have someone like Sam who understands the importance of preserving our city’s historic cemeteries.”

Sam Beetler II’s training includes a BFA in Sculpture from Kent State University and an MFA in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art & Design. This extensive skill set allows him to work on artistic and historic works in a wide variety of settings. His work earned him a 2021 Historic Savannah Foundation preservation award for the restoration of the Ward Mausoleum in Laurel Grove North Cemetery. In 2018, Sam represented the United States in the International Course on Stone Conservation hosted by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).

Beetler’s lecture is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-lecture gathering at 5:30 p.m. to socialize and enjoy a glass of wine. Members may RSVP for the Oct. 20 lecture by emailing Kimberly Newbold at knewbold@myhsf.org. The $15 nonmember registration fee can be paid by visiting HSF’s website, www.myhsf.org. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended.

For more information about the “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series, contact Newbold at 912-483-7294. For information about other HSF events, please visit myhsf.org or call 912-233-7787, and follow HSF on their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 410 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

DAVENPORT HOUSE MUSEUM PRESENTS
‘THE SICKNESS IN THE CITY – YELLOW FEVER 1820’

Savannah, Ga. – September 6, 2022 – The Davenport House Museum will present a living history depiction of early 19th-century life in Savannah, focusing on the Yellow Fever epidemic, on Friday and Saturday evenings in October. The performances will begin at 7 p.m. at the Davenport House Museum Entrance and Shop, located at 323 E. Broughton St. in Savannah. Audience sizes will be limited, so patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

The 2022 living history production will be a 50-minute, dramatic re-creation of the Yellow Fever epidemic and the psychological effects of losses it caused the city’s residents. The performance will examine 1820’s interesting medical treatments, and attendees will meet ordinary citizens with complaints about the government, home remedies, combatting mosquitoes and the true cause of the fever. With its shows, the Davenport House relays factual historical events pertaining to the epidemic of 1820 while conveying the profound emotions of grief and fear that citizens grappled with.  

The presentation features a script compiled from period sources specially for the Davenport House and includes vignettes adapted from works by Washington Irving and Conrad Aiken, developed by playwright/screenwriter Raleigh Marcell. He is a professionally produced and published playwright, his four published one-act plays having been performed by over 2,000 schools, theaters, and colleges in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Turkey.

“This year’s Yellow Fever performance focuses on the people of Savannah and how the epidemic affected them mentally and physically,” Davenport House Museum Director Jamie Credle said. “They will also enjoy seeing the house at twilight and live action performers portraying people from the past.” 

The production will begin in Columbia Square, in front of the Davenport House, and guests will make their way through the candlelit home. Guests are asked to arrive on time. Before purchasing tickets, those interested should consider that the performance requires that guests walk up and down the stairs and maneuver in low light.

Tickets to the Yellow Fever in Savannah performance are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. To purchase tickets, please visit www.davenporthousemuseum.org, call 912-236-8097, or buy them in person at the Davenport House Museum gift shop. Due to the sensitive subject matter, this program is not suitable for children under the age of 8.

The Davenport House seeks to educate, enrich, and inspire our visitors and the community, as well as recognize the historical role of the house in the founding of the Historic Savannah Foundation. Situated on Columbia Square at the corner of State and Habersham streets in historic downtown Savannah, it is one of the oldest brick structures in the city and sees approximately 40,000 visitors annually through its guided tours and education programs.

Davenport House Museum is a property of Historic Savannah Foundation. HSF is a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, which saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. The Davenport House was the first property HSF saved.  For more information, please visit http://www.davenporthousemuseum.org/programs/, email info@davenporthousemuseum.org or call 912-236-8097.

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For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, Kristyn Fielding at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 229-393-6457, or Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100. 

NEXT SESSION OF HSF’S “PEOPLE, PLACES AND STORIES” LECTURE SERIES FOCUSES ON THE DAVENPORT HOUSE DURING THE CIVIL WAR

SAVANNAH, GA – AUGUST 24, 2022 – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will host Jeff Freeman, Assistant Director of the Davenport House Museum, as the next presenter in their “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series. His presentation is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, at HSF’s headquarters, 321 E York St.

Freeman will share stories about the people of the Davenport household and the roles they played during and after the Civil War. Originally from Richmond, VA, Jeff Freeman has been at the Davenport House Museum since 2006. After a four-year stint in the U.S. Army and a 15-year career in the technology field, Jeff decided to follow his passion for history and pursue a career as a museum professional. He holds a BA in History from University of Maryland University College.

“Everyone has a general idea about the events of the Civil War, however, Jeff’s lecture aims to shed light on Savannah’s role in the war and explain how families, like the Davenports, were involved,” HSF Education and Research Associate, Kimberly Newbold said. “We are fortunate to have Jeff’s expertise to share information about the Civil War in the hostess city.”

Freeman’s lecture is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-lecture gathering at 5:30 p.m. to socialize and enjoy a glass of wine. Members may RSVP for the Sept. 22 lecture by emailing Kimberly Newbold at knewbold@myhsf.org. The $15 nonmember registration fee can be paid by visiting HSF’s website, www.myhsf.org. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended.

For more information about the “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series, contact Newbold at 912-483-7294. For information about other HSF events, please visit myhsf.org or call 912-233-7787, and follow HSF on their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 410 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

HSF HONORS W.W. LAW WITH THE INSTALLATION OF HISTORIC MARKER AT HIS VICTORY DRIVE HOME

SAVANNAH, GA – August 23, 2022 – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) unveiled a historic marker at the home of W.W. Law at 710 W. Victory Drive in Savannah on the morning on Tuesday, August 23. Westley Wallace Law purchased the house in the 1950s as a home for himself and his mother and lived there until his death in 2002. 

Historic Savannah Foundation’s Board Chair, Austin Hill unveiled the plaque with Sue Adler, President and CEO of HSF after explaining the history of this historic home.  W.W. Law, Savannah’s crusader for justice and civil rights for African Americans, had an extensive collection of documents, books, and artwork accumulated at his home over the decades, until the structure was literally sagging from the weight of the collection.  The individual who purchased the house after W.W. Law’s death did not maintain the property and in 2011, HSF got involved in saving and preserving 710 W. Victory Drive.  At the time the renovation was completed, before the current management or team members joined HSF, there was an oversight and the historic marker dedication for this building was never installed – although it was ordered and was located once HSF were alerted to this fact.

“We are thrilled to install this long overdue historic marker to honor W.W. Law’s commitment to his work in advocating for civil rights and African-American history and culture in Savannah,” Hill said. “With the support of our community, money was raised to restore his home of many years and today we are proud to stand with community partners in recognizing the man known as Savannah’s Mr. Civil Rights”

Community leaders including Vaughnette Goode-Walker – Director at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Chatham County Commissioner Chairman – Chester Ellis and Mayor Van Johnson  joined HSF for this auspicious occasion.  The current owner of this property, Troy Williams was in attendance and memories of W.W. Law were shared by Mills Morrison, whose family were longtime friends of the Law family.  

W.W. Law served as president of the Savannah chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1950 to 1976 and after his retirement, he turned his attention to the preservation of African American history and historic buildings. He established the Savannah-Yamacraw Branch of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH). As president of ASALH, he established the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Negro Heritage Trail Tour, King-Tisdell Cottage Museum, and the Beach Institute of African American Culture. Law received honorary doctorates from Savannah College of Art and Design (1997) and Savannah State University (2000), the Distinguished Georgian Award (1998) from the Center for the Study of Georgia History at Augusta State University, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Preservation Award (2001), and the Governor’s Award in the Humanities (1992).

Gregori Anderson, head of HSF’s building committee and the board parliamentarian, closed the event  and acknowledged the significance of this recognition for Savannah’s own civil rights leader.  “HSF takes our responsibility in honoring the memory of W.W. Law very seriously.  We hold a Conservation and Preservation Easement on this property and work closely with owners like Troy Williams to preserve important historic buildings throughout Savannah”.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 410 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. 

To learn more about HSF and its other upcoming events, or to become a member, please visit www.myhsf.org or call 912-233-7787, and follow HSF on their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Fielding kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 229-393- 6457, Allie Robinson allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION WELCOMES
NEW DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION & HISTORIC PROPERTIES

SAVANNAH, GA – August 10, 2022 – Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, has announced the hiring of their new Director of Preservation and Historic Properties, Ryan Jarles.

Ryan Jarles was born just outside of Nashville in the hills of Middle Tennessee, which is where his love for history began at the age of 12, when he began volunteering at The Hermitage – Home of Andrew Jackson. He moved to Savannah shortly after high school to pursue a BFA in Historic Preservation from SCAD. Prior to graduating, he completed two internships with the City of Nashville, Tennessee (Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission, and the Metropolitan Historical Commission), as well as an internship with ACE AmeriCorps (American Conservation Experience).

Ryan has held full-time positions in House Museums, the National Park Service (Fort Pulaski National Monument), Chatham County/Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission, and most recently as Preservation Planner for the Landmark Society of Western New York. His responsibilities ranged from hands-on preservation initiatives to preservation law and advocacy. Ryan is dedicated to the communities he serves, believing that preservation must always consider the full story and all the facts.

“Historic Savannah Foundation is delighted to have Ryan join our team and welcome him back to Savannah. His extensive experience and passion for preservation is what makes him a great fit for this position,” said HSF President and CEO Sue Adler. “We will enjoy working with Ryan as we advance HSF’s mission of protecting individual historic buildings and preserving the rich history of our city.”

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 410 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).