Exploring Race, Place & Identity through Low Country Collections

EVENTS > SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Drayton Hall Preservation Trust and The Decorative Arts Trust Present
EXPLORING RACE, PLACE & IDENTITY THROUGH LOW COUNTRY COLLECTIONS

Join us for this two-part seminar focused on new research and interpretation of Low Country collections, objects, and historic sites. With presentations by leading scholars at the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive, Classical American Homes Preservation Trust, Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, and the International African American Museum, this program views Charleston’s material culture through the lens of race. The interaction of artisans and consumers across communities of free and enslaved individuals created complex and difficult narratives of oppression and agency. These contradictions are found throughout Charleston and its environs. Our presenters are actively investigating and addressing these issues through the interpretation of collections and structures that express the city’s past, present, and future.

Wednesday, November 18

• 5:00 pm ET – Repairing A Broken History of Pretty Things, Keynote address by Elon Cook Lee, Director of Interpretation and Education, and Carrie Villar, Acting Vice President for Historic Sites, both from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• 5:45 pm ET – Peopling Drayton Hall: Life and Labor at a Palladian Villa, Patricia Lowe Smith and Amber Satterthwaite of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust
• 6:15 pm ET – Closing Q&A discussion with presenters 

Thursday, November 19 

• 5:00 pm ET – Fighting for Recognition: Introducing the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive, Tiffany Momon of the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive
• 5:30 pm ET – Resistance and Resilience: Rethinking the House Museums of Historic Charleston, Lauren Northup of Classical American Homes Preservation Trust
• 6:00 pm ET – African Roots/African Routes: Interpretations of Race, Place, and Identity at the International African American Museum, Brenda Tindal of the International African American Museum
• 6:30 pm ET – Closing Q&A discussion with presenters

Registration is offered on a pay what you can system. Participants should register for the full program even if they are only able to attend one session. All proceeds will be shared between the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust and the Decorative Arts Trust. 

This program is supported by:

• The Jonathan L. Fairbanks Lecture Fund of the Decorative Arts Trust 
• Gilchrist/Bissell Wealth Management of Raymond James 
• Mrs. Roger P. Hanahan, Charleston, SC
• Handsome Properties 

Registration Fee: Pay What You Wish 

Watch the symposium night 1 recording and symposium night 2 recording on YouTube. If you like these program videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications when we post new videos.

Read the Bulletin post.