Drayton Hall Interiors Newsletter Spring 2017

V o lu m e 35 N O . 1

s p ri n g 2017

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INTERIORS

H I STO RY M A K E RS

by Carter C. Hudgins, Ph.D., President and Chief executive officer Over the course of Drayton Hall’s 279 year history, countless individuals have contributed to the creation, preservation and evolution of one of our nation’s most significant historic sites. Now, in 2017, we, as history makers, aim to take Drayton Hall to new heights by enriching the Drayton Hall experience through the construction of a new visitor center and efforts to expand our stewardship and interpretation of the site.

Such an initiative would not be possible without scores of dedicated and loyal supporters—an outstanding example is Miss Sally Reahard. A noted philanthropist, “Miss Sally” held Drayton Hall as her most significant project in Charleston.

Not only did she provide financial support to help Historic

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Charleston Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation acquire Drayton Hall in the 1970s, but upon her death she established an endowment to support Drayton Hall’s general operations. What is more, she left an additional gift dedicated for the construction of new facilities.

Now, 14 years after her death at the age of 95, we recognize her lifetime of support by naming our new visitor center in her honor.

As construction of the new Sally Reahard Visitor Center begins, we’d like to highlight some of the active voices of the present whose close involvement with the project’s design and execution is bringing the future of Drayton Hall to life.

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PRESI D E N T ' S CO LU M N by carter c. Hudgins, Ph.D., president and Chief executive officer After preserving history for more than 40 years, Drayton Hall is now poised to make history. This comes as we have broken ground on the construction of the new Sally Reahard Visitor Center thanks to the support and dedication of the staff, board of trustees, volunteers and Friends of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust. I’d like to think that together, we are History Makers as not since the building of the main house has such an ambitious construction project been underway at Drayton Hall.

Once completed, the new visitor center complex will enhance the visitor experience, improve our stewardship of collections, allow for expanded programming, and help promote Drayton Hall’s position as one of our nation’s most important historic sites and the only cultural institution that can exhibit nearly 300 years of South Carolina’s history.

There is still much work to be done ahead of our spring 2018 ribbon cutting, but progress is made every day. A quick glance across the site and you will see our partners at Hood Construction coordinating the implementation of the designs made by Glenn Keyes Architects and Wertimer + Cline Landscape Architects, our curatorial staff busily preparing our inaugural exhibits, expanded programming being planned by Drayton Hall’s visitor services team, and our philanthropy department successfully

carrying out the largest capital campaign in the site’s history.

As we look forward to Drayton Hall’s next chapter and opening the doors to our new facilities, I trust you will find the same satisfaction as I do, knowing that we have made history at Drayton Hall for the benefit of future generations.

The mission of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust is to preserve, educate and inspire.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair Stephen F. (Steve) Gates, Vice Chair W. Hampton Morris, Vice Chair Marilynn Wood Hill, Treasurer H. Montague (Monty) Osteen, Jr., Secretary Thomas W. (Woody) Rash, Jr., Richard Almeida, Nathan (Nate) Berry, Mary (MeMe) Black, William B. (Bill) Bodine, Catherine Brown Braxton, Frank W. Brumley, Amelia (Mimi) Cathcart, Matthew Cochrane-Logan, P. Steven (Steve) Dopp, Frank B. Drayton, Jr., John B. Hildreth, Benjamin P. (Ben) Jenkins, III, Rise Johnson, Kristopher B. King, Douglas B. (Doug) Lee, Benjamin F. (Ben) Lenhardt, Jr., Fulton D. (Tony) Lewis, Jr., Michael B. Prevost, Anthony C. (Tony) Wood

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carter C. Hudgins, Ph.D.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Paula C. Marion

INTERIORS STAFF Kristine Morris, Editor Natalie Titcomb, graphic designer

above: The Drayton Hall Preservation Trust Board of Trustees. Their unprecedented support and leadership have made the Drayton Hall Reimagined Campaign possible.

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THE B OTA N IC A L WO R L D O F CHA R L ES D R AY TO N

by Eric Becker, Manager of Landscapes, Horticulture and Modern Facilities Drayton Hall’s landscape continues to reveal its wonders centuries after Charles Drayton (1743–1820) began to fill his plantation journals with detailed descriptions and “Desiderata” (a “wish-list”) of native and exotic flowers and plants. Charles must have appreciated that his entries would be useful in coming years, but he hardly could have imagined their influence centuries later. From Drayton Hall’s 2003 Landscape Master Plan—the overall vision for defining and preserving the historical integrity of the site, including surviving features that Charles created over his lifetime— to the new interpretive gardens that will fill the courtyard of our future visitor center, we see the influence of Charles’ lifelong passion for the natural and botanical world of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Charles’ immersion in this world is reflected not only through his writings, library, and subscriptions to botanical publications, but through his studies in botany while completing his degree in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and through his friendships and correspondence with important botanists of the day like John Fraser (1750-1811) and Andre Michaux (1746-1803). These combined resources provide an extraordinary window into that period of exchange of plants and ideas among Charles and his contemporaries.

Charles’ diary entry indicates a likely reference to a magazine collection sometime around 1800, possibly the one shown below.

above, left: Charles’ “wish-list” of native and exotic flowers and plants. Number 281, refers to the two images below (in the middle and far right.)

right: W. Curtis’ Botanical Magazine, 1794.

middle: Plate 281 of Turnera angustifolia, which is today called “ulmifolia” as the leaves are similar to an elm. left: Turnera text.

Courtesy of Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden.

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THE BOTANICAL WORLD OF CHARLES DRAYTON CONTINUED

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“There are now some valuable private gardens near Charlestown: one is situated in St. Andrews on the banks of the Ashley River, and belongs to Charles Drayton. It is arranged with exquisite taste and contains an extensive collection of trees, shrubs, and flowers which are natives of the country. Among many other valuable exotics, a great number of viburnum tinus, and of gardenias, which are perfectly naturalized to the soil, grow thee with enchanting luxuriance; but the principal object of the proprietor has been to make an elegant and concentrated display of the native riches of Carolina, in which he has succeeded to the delight and admiration of all visitants.”

— “Ramsay’s History of South Carolina: From its First Settlers in 1670 to the year 1808,” David Ramsay, W.J. Duffie, 1858

A glimpse of the complex global trade routes of the 18thcentury in which Charles and his peers participated.

Botanical signs, for future installation, describe flowers and plants from Drayton Hall’s historic plant list. Image credits: Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden from W. Curtis’ Botanical Magazine

transcribed from Charles’ Plantation journal: JANUARY 1809

At Frazer the botanist. Has a simple temporary Green house. A shallow pit about a foot deep contains a frame, lined with boards, as in the Margin. The front, is about 1/2 a foot from the surface; & the back about 2. - A small sloping bank, embraces the whole, to cast off the water & keep it dry & warm.

MARCH 1809

At Savanna…Fraser junior, botanist, came & presented some plants - Nr. 1.

Magnolia Michauxia – 2. - 2. plants M. Fraseri” FEBRUARY 1810

Frazer botanist came. Gave him several plants. a Cedrela - several Stewartias, Capes, & Ilicium stellata. & Seeds of Halesia. He gave me 3 cuttings of Lonicera lu-tea - & a plant, a vine, not named. He is about going to England with a cargoe of plants he rates at £2000. Sterl. He promised to send 1. or 2 Ilicuia Floridana in pots.

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A diary entry in Charles’ hand.You can read more excerpts from the Drayton Diaries online by visiting the Lowcountry Digital Library at the College of Charleston Library http://lcdl.library. cofc.edu/content/drayton-papers-1701-2004

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THE BOTANICAL WORLD OF CHARLES DRAYTON -

CONTINUED

The centerpiece of the courtyard garden will be a centuries-old live oak framed by historically accurate botanical plantings inspired by Charles Drayton’s diaries.

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HISTORY MAKERS CONTINUED

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Sally Reahard (1908–2003) was a longtime supporter of Drayton Hall; she established our endowment, which provided the leadership gift that made the new facilities project possible.

“Drayton Hall is the greatest Palladian structure in America. It was a daunting task to add something to those grounds! Thinking about 18th-century construction, we wanted a design that would complement not “Beginning at the front gate, this is a project that will leave its

compete with the traditional architectural vocabulary.

mark on the 125 acres that is Drayton Hall. Everything from

We came up with the idea of massive timber-frame portals

the access roads, new buildings and exhibits, to the interpretive

reminiscent of the timber-frame roof of Drayton Hall. We

gardens, pathways, and educational programming create a

also saw this as a great opportunity to celebrate the craft

launch pad to the full visitor experience.”

by showing how 18th-century structures were built.”

— C A R T E R C . H U D G I N S President and CEO

— G L E N N K E Y E S Glenn Keyes Architects

“The main idea of the courtyard is not to try to recreate any historic garden, but to give it a clear geometry—a circle within a square—and overlay this two-dimensional plan with some of the more delicate plants to bring a rich, diverse horticultural history into it.”

— S H E I L A W E R T I M E R Wertimer + Cline Landscape Architects

Editor’s note: For more about the historic gardens of Drayton Hall, read “The Botanical World of Charles Drayton” by Eric Becker, page 3.

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“The preservation philosophy of Drayton Hall is really what makes it the most unique place in the area – the house has been preserved instead of restored. From a collections aspect that makes it very unique because nothing is actually stored in the house. Most of our visitors aren’t even aware that we have a collection! For the first time ever I’ll be able to exhibit objects from our collections on the property.”

— S A R A H S T R O U D C L A R K E Curator of Collections & Archaeologist

“One of the very first things that we started to think about

“In the future when we speak

was that “aha” moment, that sense of arrival that so

about social history, we will

many visitors remember. We wanted to make sure that we

not have to just talk about the

would never diminish that experience…”

past. It’s easier when students are able to see something and read it

— S H E I L A W E R T I M E R Wertimer + Cline Landscape Architects

for themselves, or for that matter touch and feel, which is what we’re

“We owe Charles Drayton (1743–1820) an enormous debt.

aiming for with the new visitor

In his plantation diaries, which he recorded almost daily

center —to have them do both.”

from 1784 until his death in 1820, he provides us with invaluable insights into his education in and exposure to

— S H E L I A H A R R E L L - R O Y E Curator of Education & Public Engagement

botany, and how these experiences influenced him throughout his life, and continue to inform our efforts centuries later.”

— E R I C B E C K E R Manager of Landscapes, Horticulture & Modern Facilities

“Now we’ll be able to expand upon our stories, to add texture and really drill down into things we want to share about the house.

We can show a whole timeline of what’s changed or what’s gone missing over the years—it will be

create other opportunities for people to come to

nice to finally have the

Drayton Hall, learn about it and experience it, the

opportunity to pull

more successful we will be in fulfilling our long-term

those threads together.”

stewardship strategy.”

— P A T R I C I A S M I T H

Photo by Willie Graham

“Drayton Hall is a fragile resource. The more we

Curator of Historic Architectural Resources

— S T E V E G A T E S Chair of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust Board of Trustees

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TR ANSFORMI N G T H E D R AY TO N H A LL E XPE R I E N CE T H ROU GH T ECH N O LO GY by allison jordan, director of visitor services For years, technological innovations at Drayton Hall have remained almost exclusively in the realm of employees or those working behind the scenes. With the construction of new facilities, however, we have an incredible opportunity to not only share those innovations with the public, but to use them to significantly enhance the daily interpretive experience.

Future visitors to Drayton Hall will begin their journey at the Sally Reahard Visitor Center, where they will be met with the creative use of 21st-century technology from the moment they walk through the door. A new introductory film will feature breathtaking footage captured by high-flying drones—including fresh views of the property and a newfound appreciation for its prominent place along the Ashley River. Touch-screen monitors within the orientation hall will invite visitors to delve deeper into particular facets of the site which interest them most, from the historic landscape and gardens to the collections, archaeological discoveries, the generations of people connected with Drayton Hall, and more.

above: 3-D image of Drayton Hall’s Desk and Bookcase (1745–1755) and work in progress (left).

But perhaps the most distinctive component of these technologically-enhanced interpretive offerings will be the incorporation of 3-D images of Drayton Hall’s interior spaces, digitally restored with extraordinary precision to c. 1765, and furnished with items from our vast collections. “This technology is exciting,” notes Drayton Hall’s Curator of Historic Architectural Resources Trish Smith who is leading the project, “because it enables us to share photorealistic images of the house at its zenith in the 18th century, while visitors can still appreciate the house in its state of careful preservation.”

Future visitors to the site will continue to experience an authentic encounter with a preserved 18th-century estate, complemented and enriched by the use of modern technology, to tell a more dynamic and comprehensive story that will bring Drayton Hall’s remarkable history to life like never before.

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THE C H A RLOT TA D . D R AY TO N L E GACY S O CI E T Y Your Personal Legacy & Planned Giving at Drayton Hall by steve mount, director of philanthropy The authenticity of Drayton Hall resonates with our guests, resulting in a special tradition of philanthropy which has helped sustain the site since it was first opened to the public nearly 45 years ago. This tradition is reliant upon a cadre of committed Friends of Drayton Hall and annual donors – many of whom have supported the important work underway here for decades.

In her last will and testament, Charlotta Drayton recorded her desire to “preserve the building known as Drayton Hall for future generations.” Her nephews, Charles Henry Drayton III and Francis Beatty Drayton, honored their aunt’s wishes and, because of her foresight, Drayton Hall survives in its nearly original state, an enduring legacy.

Nearly fifteen years ago, a transformative bequest created an endowed fund to support Drayton Hall, which provides nearly 40% of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust’s annual operating budget. Today, Drayton Hall has three dozen members in the Charlotta D. Drayton Legacy Society, who will help ensure access to Drayton Hall for generations of guests.

A small portion of this loyal group has made the especially meaningful gesture of including the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust in their estate plans, establishing a personal legacy at Drayton Hall and becoming a member of the Charlotta D. Drayton Legacy Society.

Charlotta Drayton (1884–1969), the namesake of Drayton Hall’s planned giving program, made the critical decision to maintain the main house without the modern amenities of electricity and plumbing. She understood the value of the authenticity and uniqueness of Drayton Hall, stressing the importance of continuing the preservation of the site in her estate plans.

As you consider your estate and planning needs with your advisor, we hope you will consider including the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust in your plans and share your plans when finalized.

As a member of the Charlotta D. Drayton Legacy Society, you are establishing a lasting personal legacy while supporting Drayton Hall’s important mission.

PL A N N E D GI V I N G I N BR I E F Charitable Bequests

Gift of Life Insurance

The majority of planned gift declarations received are bequest expectancies – typically a provision included in a will, trust or other estate plan designating assets in support of Drayton Hall. They may be designated for a specific purpose or given without restriction.

The DHPT may also accept gifts of existing, fully-paid wholelife insurance policies if named irrevocable owner and sole beneficiary of the policy. The policy’s replacement cost at the time of the donation is considered a charitable contribution.

Beneficiary Designations

Life-Income Gifts

The Drayton Hall Preservation Trust may also be named as a primary or contingent beneficiary of your retirement plan, bank account or life insurance policy.

While we do not have the financial, regulatory or legal ability to structure life-income gifts—such as Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder or Lead Trusts—we are able to facilitate lifeincome gift conversations with an existing gift-planning partner.

For more information about the Charlotta D. Drayton Legacy Society and planned giving at Drayton Hall, please contact Steve Mount, Director of Philanthropy, at 843-769-2601 or smount@draytonhall.org.

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DRAY TON H A LL 2 0 1 6 A N N UAL R E PO RT W ITH 20 1 6 F I SC A L Y E A R F I N AN CI A L S U M M ARY j u ly 2 01 5 – j u n e 2 01 6

Since January 1, 2015, the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust (DHPT), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, has managed the operation and stewardship of Drayton Hall, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The 2016 fiscal year (July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016) was the first full fiscal year for the DHPT and your ongoing philanthropic support played a vital role in the success of our programs and mission: to preserve, educate and inspire.

Endowment $22,589,369 $20,382,408

$20,241,200

YEAR-END VALUE OF THE ENDOWMENT BENEFITTING DRAYTON HALL 2014–2016

cy2014

cy2015

At the core of Drayton Hall’s funding model is our endowment. Established by the estate of Sally Reahard with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to benefit Drayton Hall, the endowment was valued at $20,241,200 at the conclusion of calendar year 2016. It includes $3M to support construction of new facilities at Drayton Hall, of which $1M will be used to construct the new visitor center. Drayton Hall’s operating budget includes an annual 5% draw from the endowment account, based on a three-year rolling average of the calendar year-end balances.

cy2016

FUNDING SOURCES $4,532,269

Annual Giving

Grants

$148,954 (3%)

$74,759 (2%)

Funding Sources General operating support in the form of earned income (admissions, museum shop sales, events) and unearned income (gifts to the Friends of Drayton Hall) supplement Drayton Hall’s endowment draw* and sustain our mission-driven programs. Of more than $4.5 million in funds generated in FY16, the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust received 39% of its funds, or $1,772,460, in the form of contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. Unique in FY16 was use of $669,000 in accrued endowment earnings restricted to cyclical maintenance needs: the conservation of Drayton Hall’s portico and installation of a new sewer system.

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Admissions/Events/ Sales $766,868 (17%)

Endowment/ Investments (restricted)

Contributions $1,772,460 (39%)

$669,000 (15%)

Endowment/ Investments (unrestricted) $1,100,228 (24%)

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EXPENSE ALLOCATION $3,517,050 Fundraising $315,860 (9%)

Expense Allocation General and Administrative $537,723 (15%)

Program $2,663,467 (76%)

Of FY16 expenses, 76% was dedicated to Drayton Hall’s mission-related programs, which are rooted in preservation and education. Administrative and fundraising expenses accounted for 15% and 9%, respectively. The change to local governance resulted in higher administration costs, including investment in financial accounting systems and CRM software.

RESTRICTED GIFTS $2,445,125 Collections

Fellowship

$64,510 (2%)

$41,500 (2%)

Restricted Gifts Restricted gifts—special gifts made to support specific projects at Drayton Hall—are integral to advancing Drayton Hall’s long-term vision and our expanded stewardship of resources. In FY16, restricted gifts were made to support programs or initiatives including, but not limited to, conservation of the portico, collections acquisition and conservation, the Wexler Fellowship, pond conservation, and new facilities.

* For accounting purposes, distributions

Special Projects $928,375 (38%)

Visitor Center $1,410,740 (58%)

from the endowment are considered unearned support, or gifts, to the DHPT. 11

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3380 Ashley River Road | Charleston, SC 29414 º

10%

Total Recovered Fiber All Post-Consumer Fiber

Please join us for the Fall 2017 Drayton Hall Distinguished Speakers Series: October 17th

November 14th

Chris Swan Colonial Williamsburg

Robert Hunter Ceramics in America

Furniture Conservation: Some Finer Points

A Peculiar Look at the 18th-Century Ceramics of Drayton Hall

sponsored by chipstone Join the conversation!

Follow us on social media, discover more about how we’re reimagining Drayton Hall at draytonhallreimagined.org or email our president Carter C. Hudgins at campaign@draytonhall.org.

The Charleston Museum 360 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401

For details, visit draytonhalldistinguishedspeakers.org

All images are courtesy of the drayton hall preservation trust unless other wise noted.