Drayton Hall Preservation Trust Distinguished Speakers Series

Drayton Hall Preservation Trust will present their 2018 – 2019 Distinguished Speaker Series to connect audiences with the history, art, philosophy, archaeology, and sociology that influenced life for those who were a part of Drayton Hall’s history for more than 235 years. From November 2018 – May 2019, five lectures will be offered in venues around Charleston to augment the first exhibit in the new gallery at Drayton Hall, An Agreeable Prospect: The Creation of a Colonial South Carolina Palace and Garden.http://www.draytonhall.org/ SC Humanities helped support this program with a Major Grant.

Drayton Hall is an iconic 18th-century estate located 11 miles outside of Charleston. During the American Revolution, the estate served as headquarters for British generals. It escaped destruction during the Civil War. It witnessed the emancipation of slaves and the transformation of the Southern economy. The Distinguished Speaker Series will provide varying perspectives on the history and culture that influenced life at Drayton Hall.

Confirmed lectures include:

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 | 6:00 p.m.
Whiskey in America – Archaeology Lecture and Tasting Event
Featuring Dr. Luke J. Pecoraro
The lecture will introduce the audience to distilled products made in colonial America and combine information drawn from the archaeological record of known production sites, with specific reference to George Washington’s distillery at Mount Vernon.
Location: Charleston Library Society, 164 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
Free; following the lecture, guests will be invited to a whiskey tasting with a separate charge ($25 for members and $35 for non-members)
Info: 843-769-2600

Sunday, February 10, 2019
Denmark Vesey’s Garden
Featuring Dr. Ethan J. Kytle and Dr. Blain Roberts
Dr. Kytle and Dr. Roberts collaborated on the recent book, Denmark Vesey’s Garden, which has received national acclaim. It was named one of the “Summer Books 2018” selections by the New York TimesDenmark Vesey’s Garden reveals the deep roots of today’s controversies and traces them to the heart of slavery in the United States: Charleston, South Carolina, where almost half of the US slave population stepped onto American shores.
Location: Drayton Hall Education Center
Info: 843-769-2600

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Connoisseur with a Crown: George IV—Collector, Tastemaker, Spendthrift
Presented by Mitch Owens, Decorative Arts Editor, Architectural Digest
England is in the air! Kick off the week of Winter Antiques in Charleston with Mitch Owens, Architectural Digest’s Editor of Decorative Arts for a fun filled romp through the style and collections of George IV. A lively gallop through this regent’s homes including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Carlton House will look at his furniture, china, and art selections. A perfect way lead in to Winter Antiques Show events as Historic Charleston prepares to welcome Peer of the Realm, the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury later that week!
Location: South Carolina Society Hall, 72 Meeting Street, Charleston
Lecture is free to all. The reception is  $10 members and $20 for non-members. No door admittance can be accommodated, please  RSVP HERE TO ATTEND.
Info: 843-769-2600

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 | 6:00 p.m.
Allées and Theatrical Arrangements in English Gardens, 1740-1840: Painshill, Strawberry Hill, and Wrest
Park
Presented by Mark Laird, renown historic landscape conservationist
Mark Laird is Associate Professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and has a consultancy in hsistoric landscape conservation with bases in Toronto and the UK.
Location: Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
Mark Laird’s lecture is free to all. The reception is  $10 members and $20 for non-members. No door admittance can be accommodated, please  RSVP HERE TO ATTEND.
Info: 843-769-2600

Thursday, May 16, 2019
A Tale of Two Historic Dinners

Presented by Chec Kevin Mitchell
Kevin Mitchell, chef and scholar of southern foodways discusses history as told through his food in two historic meals presented in Charleston. Chef Mitchell will revisit the cooks, the ingredients and the inspiration for the Nat Fuller and the Drayton Hall Tribute dinners. Chef Mitchell will discuss the process to research and create two historic dinners in tribute to the enslaved cooks of Charleston. A powerful and moving story told by food from hands of a scholar who researched their stories and work.
Location: Charleston Library Society, 164 King Street, Charleston, SC
Chef Mitchell’s discussion is free to all. The reception is for $10 members and $20 non-members. No door admittance can be accommodated, please  RSVP HERE TO ATTEND.
Info: 843-769-2600

More information about Drayton Hall and the Distinguished Speaker Series can be found on their website: http://www.draytonhall.org/.

The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 21-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.