1. P R E S E R V A T I O N T R U S T
f r i e n d s of d r a y t o n h a l l
INTERIORS
P R E S E R V A T I O N T R U S T C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 4
Volume 34 NO. 1 spring summer 2015
On November 6, 1989, George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., started
his job as Executive Director of Drayton Hall. He arrived in
the wake of an unexpected visit by a most unruly and uninvited
visitor, Hurricane Hugo. For others, victory might have been
just getting Drayton Hall back to its pre-Hugo status, but not
for George. From that point on, until his retirement in June of
this year, he has consistently been upping the bar at Drayton
Hall, establishing it as a truly world-class historic site.
Unlike sites whose narratives are restricted to their own story
and whose preservation concerns stop at their gates, because of
George’s broader vision, Drayton Hall has used its compelling
history to connect visitors to multiple larger historic themes
and to instill in them a preservation ethic that they take home
with them. By doing so, George has established Drayton Hall
not only as a preserved site but as a site dedicated to preser-
vation itself.
George’s success at Drayton Hall is not solely the result of his
preservation philosophy; much of it has to do with the man
behind the philosophy. If one only looks at George’s impres-
sive professional credentials: an undergraduate degree from
Sewanee, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown, and a Ph.D
from Duke, and his professional experiences at the Center for
Southern Folklore and the Atlanta History Center, one might
mistakenly assume George is some “lost in another century”
history nerd. However, his fuller resume—a stint in Togo, West
Africa, with the Peace Corps and serving our country in the
First Infantry Division, U.S. Army in Vietnam—suggests there
is more to him. But even that doesn’t reveal the George that
one only gets to know by spending time with him.
George is great fun. He possess a true joie de vivre. He is a
gifted raconteur—a true storyteller. He is a man of many inter-
ests and talents—a true Renaissance man—give him half a
A COMPELLING LEGACY
by Anthony C. Wood
Trustee, Drayton Hall preservation trust
Photo by Morgan Livingston

2. d r ay t o n h a l l
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Since establishing its Preservation Depart-
ment in 2006, Drayton Hall has dramatically
improved the stewardship and research of the
site’s rich historic resources. The impressive
gains made over the last nine years are, without
question, tied to the hiring of a curatorial staff
that is knowledgeable, skilled, and committed.
The stewardship of the main house now rests in the hands of
a passionate team of dedicated preservationists; our histori-
cally important landscape is seeing an extraordinary rebirth
through the skilled efforts of our professional horticulturist
and technicians; and our internationally significant archaeo-
logical and decorative arts collections are achieving a greater
level of awareness and acclaim, reflecting the meticulous work
and comprehensive management by our resident archaeolo-
gist and curator of collections.
Given Drayton Hall’s significance and the efforts of our special-
ized staff, it is only fitting to dedicate a portion of Interiors to
our curators in order to bring our friends the latest discoveries,
acquisitions, breakthroughs, and opportunities. Beginning with
this issue, Interiors will feature a regular segment known as the
“Curator’s Column”, allowing our curatorial staff to keep you
apprised of the world-class work being conducted to maintain
one of North America’s greatest colonial estates.
In this introductory edition, I am honored to highlight our
senior curators as you will be hearing from them directly in
this and future issues of Interiors.
CURATOR'S COLUMN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair Stephen F. (Steve) Gates, Vice Chair Edward E. Crawford, Vice Chair
W. Hampton Morris, Treasurer H. Montague (Monty) Osteen, Jr., Secretary
Marilynn Wood Hill, Richard Almeida, Nathan (Nate) Berry, Mary (MeMe)
Black, Catherine Brown Braxton, Amelia (Mimi) Cathcart, Matthew Cochrane-
Logan, P. Steven (Steve) Dopp, Frank B. Drayton, Jr., Carl I. Gable, John B.
Hildreth, Kristopher B. King, Douglas B. (Doug) Lee, Benjamin F. Lenhardt,
Jr., Fulton D. (Tony) Lewis, Jr., Deborah Mack, Michael B. Prevost, Thomas
W. (Woody) Rash, Jr., Anthony C. (Tony) Wood
ACTING PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Carter C. Hudgins, Ph.D.
INTERIORS STAFF
Kristine Morris, Editor
Natalie Titcomb, graphic designer
Robert A. Johnson, volunteer proofreader
by carter c. Hudgins, Ph.D., acting president
and executive director
Sarah Stroud Clarke – Curator of Collections & Archaeology
Sarah is responsible for Drayton Hall’s Museum, Archival, and
Archaeological Collections and oversees the archaeological
laboratory and excavations on site. She came to Drayton Hall
as the 2007 Drayton Hall Wood Family Fellow and is currently
working on her Ph.D. in Anthropology at Syracuse University.
Sarah received her M.A. degree in Anthropology from San
Diego State University and her bachelor’s degree in American
History from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. Prior to Dray-
ton Hall, Sarah worked as an archaeologist, including at the
original 1607 James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, and Thomas
Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Bedford, Virginia. At Drayton Hall
Sarah has helped establish and further our partnership with
the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery
(DAACS) at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello—part of an effort
to catalog Drayton Hall’s one million+ excavated artifacts—and
is also developing a strategy to conserve and exhibit Drayton
Hall’s museum collection.
Patricia “Trish” Smith – Curator of Historic Architectural Resources
Trish provides care for Drayton Hall’s historic buildings along
with associated artifacts and archival records. After graduating
with a B.A. in Art History from the University of South Carolina
Honors College, Smith received her M.S. from the Clemson
University and College of Charleston joint graduate program
in Historic Preservation. Trish came to Drayton Hall in 2010 as
a Wood Family Fellow, and joined the staff permanently upon
completion of her fellowship. In 2013, she was awarded a res-
idential fellowship at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s
Digital History Center to study the application of 3D visualiza-
tion technology for the documentation and interpretation of
cultural heritage sites. At Drayton Hall she has assembled the
site’s first preservation archive, carried out several architec-
tural conservation projects, launched a digital restoration of
Drayton Hall, and is currently managing the rehabilitation of
Drayton Hall’s iconic portico.
Eric Becker – Manager of Landscapes,Horticulture,& ModernFacilities
A native of Missouri, Eric received his B.S. in Agriculture/
Horticulture with a minor in History from Southeast Missouri
State University. He served as a gardener supervisor and proj-
ect manager for the St. Louis Department of Parks before
becoming the horticulturalist and director of grounds for the
Historic Columbia Foundation in South Carolina. Since joining
Drayton Hall in 2009, Eric has successfully implemented the
2003 Historic Landscape Master Plan and is actively working
to develop an expanded plan intended to increase the care of
our landscapes and provide more access and interpretation for
our guests. Essential to Eric’s planning has been his research
of Drayton Hall’s archival collection where he has compiled a
horticultural history of the site, including notable individuals
that exchanged plants with Charles Drayton.
The mission of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust is to research, preserve, and interpret Drayton Hall, its
collections, and environs, in order to educate the public and to inspire people to embrace historic preservation.

3. i n t e r i o r s s p r i n g s u m m e r 2 0 1 5
C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 7 3
One of the most exciting new aspects of the Drayton Hall
Preservation Trust is an expansion of the Collections Acquisition
policy, which allows for the DHPT to acquire objects based on
the archaeological collection at Drayton Hall. Archaeological
artifacts represent the material culture that was acquired and
used by the Drayton family and enslaved residents of Drayton
Hall, and with an estimated one million artifacts in the Drayton
Hall archaeological collection, there is a wealth of material to
explore. It is often difficult to conceptualize the whole object
an artifact represents, so we are excited to begin acquiring
objects that will bring the artifacts to life.
The first object acquired by the DHPT in 2015 is a rare Eng-
lish dry-bodied stoneware teapot dating to c.1765-1770. The
Drayton Hall staff refers to this object as the “dragon teapot”
as it is decorated with a stylized Chinese dragon. Likely made
in Staffordshire, England, the teapot is brown with a buff slip
and applied brown decorations including the dragon and a bor-
der of alternating floral sprays with a molded bamboo handle.
Fragments of an identical teapot were found at Drayton Hall in
1980 and 1981 during the excavations of the North and South
Flanker buildings and it is believed these fragments represent
the only known example of this particular style teapot in colonial
North America. The dragon teapot was most certainly ordered
and used by John Drayton (1715-1779) and is a wonderful rep-
resentation of the English fascination with objects of Chinese
origin; the base of the teapot even has a pseudo-Chinese seal.
Plans are in the works to display the dragon teapot to Drayton
Hall visitors in the coming year! The DHPT was able to acquire
the dragon teapot with funds granted by the 2014 Charleston
Antiques Forum beneficiary fund. We would like to thank the
Charleston Antiques Forum for their support.
The official Notice to Proceed for the Drayton Hall
portico project was issued the first week of June, and the project
has been moving swiftly along ever since. Beginning in 2011,
this multi-phase effort to research the iconic portico, assess its
condition, and engineer a sensitive and long-lasting repair is
now in its final months as workers carry out the extensive reha-
bilitation scheduled to wrap up in November.
In June, a team from Richard
Marks Restorations installed
foam, plastic, and plywood to
protect historic materials on and
around the portico while work is
underway. Professional concrete
cutters were brought in to saw
out large swaths of the concrete
deck and, in the process, we dis-
covered an old snack wrapper
imbedded in the concrete that
helped us date the slab to the 1930s. Additional discoveries
were made below the stairs where we found brick vaults con-
taining clues about early phases of construction.
Workers are now erecting braces to support the columns
while major structural improvements are made. In the com-
ing months, they will be installing new joists made of salvaged
timbers, tying back and reinforcing the structure in strategic
locations, and re-laying the stone pavers.
Time-lapse images and video updates are posted weekly to
share new developments and discoveries as they unfold. The
site will remain open while work is underway, and we encour-
age you to come see preservation in progress!
Portico Project Update: Snack Wrapper Offers Clues
to Historic Portico Repair
By Sarah Stroud Clarke, Archaeologist and
Curator of Collections
by Patricia Lowe Smith, Curator of Historic
Architectural Resources
Collections Update: Drayton Hall Preservation Trust
Acquires First Collections Object in 2015
UPDATE ON PROJECTS
Photography by Robert Hunter

4. d r ay t o n h a l l
C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1
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chance and he’ll speak to you in French.
If you’re near water, before you know it
he will have you out in a boat. He is a
people person—naturally welcoming and
embracing old friends and friends-to-be.
As you’ll see reflected in the images that
follow, George is truly passionate about
the things he holds dear—family and
friends, Drayton Hall, historic sites, his-
tory, and preservation.
The picture of the Drayton family coat
of arms at Drayton Hall includes the
Drayton family motto: “HAC ITER AD
ASTRA”—“This, the way to the stars.”
When it comes to historic sites, if anyone
knows “the way to the stars,” it is George
McDaniel.
A COMPELLING LEGACY
“By playing a leadership
role in regional
preservation, George has
established Drayton Hall
not only as a preserved
site but as a site dedicated
to preservation itself.”
— A N T H O N Y C . W O O D
Trustee of the Drayton Hall
Preservation Trust
01 : 1989 – Newly arrived Executive Director
George W. McDaniel.
02 : 1998 – With Drayton Hall supporter, Miss
Sally Reahard.
03, 04, 05 : Over the years, multiple awards for
George’s leadership and innovation.
06 : 2005 Press Conference – working to prevent the
mega-development of Watson Hill.
07 : 2006 – Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at the
opening ceremony of a new Bike Path – a low-impact
project that Drayton Hall and the National Trust
supported from its earliest stages.
08 : 2009 – George led the successful search to locate
the owner of the “Mystery Watercolor” of Drayton Hall,
dated 1765. L-R, Carter C. Hudgins, Ph.D, current
acting President and Executive Director of Drayton
Hall, Anne Drayton Nelson, an 8th
-generation
Drayton family descendant, and George examine the
painting in the company of the owner, Jim Lockard.
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“With George at the helm, Drayton Hall became a nationally recognized
leader in historic preservation. He expanded its educational programming,
grew its staff and resources, and engineered its co-stewardship model with
the National Trust. His contributions over the past 26 years have been
vital to Drayton Hall and its important mission.”
— S T E P H E N F . ( S T E V E ) G AT E S
Chair of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust Board of Trustees
09 : 2011 – Man about town – chosen
by the Visitors Bureau to help celebrate
Charleston as Conde Nast’s Top City
in the U.S.
10 : 2012 – Videotaping oral histories
of descendants of the enslaved.
L-R: Videographer Jay Millard,
George, sound engineer Joe Schmidt,
Lowcountry Africana’s Toni Carrier
and Robin Foster, descendants Rev. R.
Geddis and Lorraine White.
11 : 2012 – Studying maps with
delegates from Guinea, West Africa,
and noting the geographical similarities
between the Lowcountry and the coastal
region of Guinea.
12 : 2012 – Staff, site council, and
their families celebrate at Drayton
Hall’s Annual Holiday Oyster Roast.
Here, Site Council Chair Anthony C.
Wood and George share an especially
funny moment.
13 : 2013 – At Drayton Hall’s
Preservation Wednesday with Charlie
Drayton, a seventh-generation
descendant of Drayton Hall.
14 : 2014 – Being interviewed for SC
Hall of Fame Induction of William
Henry Drayton.
15 : 2014 – With Drayton Hall
supporter, Esther Beaumont.
16 : 2014 – With a group of planners
from the nearby town of Summerville
who are developing a master plan
that identifies the Ashley River and its
feeder creeks as “green necklaces” to be
preserved for the region’s future.
17 : 2014 – Catch and release for this
avid sportsman and conservationist.
18 : 2014 – George giving a
Connoisseur Tour to the Indiana
Chapter of The Nature Conservancy,
which – along with Drayton Hall – has
been supported by Miss Sally Reahard.
The trustees of the chapter visited
Charleston to go on a “Miss Sally
Tour” and witness the lasting impacts
of her generosity in the Lowcountry.
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“George has always been at the leading intellectual edge of the interpretation
of historic sites, and he has demonstrated time and time again that historic
sites can truly make a difference in their communities, in the nation and in
the world. Through his work at Drayton Hall, George has strengthened that
site’s connections to the community, created a transformative experience for
visitors, and led the exemplary preservation of the site and the surrounding
landscape of the Ashley River corridor. Importantly, George also is widely
recognized for his work in interpreting African American history at Drayton
Hall. His innovative approach has become a model of engagement and
interpretation that has influenced the way this important work is done across
the National Trust’s portfolio of sites and at many other properties around
the country. George has inspired and challenged all of us over the years to be
more inclusive, more creative and more courageous in telling the full history
of the powerful places we steward.”
— S T E P H A N I E K . M E E K S
President, the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Top Two Images :
2015 – Marion Thompson Wright
Lecture Series with McDaniel’s
presentation on engaging descendants
19 : 2015 – George’s presentation
featured a Q & A session with
Drayton Hall descendants Rebecca
Campbell and Catherine Braxton
(center and right).
20 : 2015 – George with fellow
presenter Lonnie Bunch, inaugural
director of the National Museum of
African American History and Culture
and former Drayton Hall Site Advisory
Council member.
Photos above by Fred Stucker, courtesy of
Curating Black America: the 35th
annual
Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series,
Rutgers University-Newark.
21 : December 15, 2014 – A historic
moment as (L-R:) Drayton Hall Board
of Trustees Chair Steve Gates, George,
and NTHP President Stephanie Meeks,
address the staff and site council
before signing the papers that would
transition Drayton Hall to its “co-
stewardship” status, a new form of
governance and administration.
22 : George would be the first to say
that he owes much of his success to the
love and support of his wonderful wife
of 35 years, Mary Sue McDaniel.
ANTHONY C. WOOD is a preservation activist, writer, teacher, historian, grant-
maker, and philanthropic advisor. Since 1993 he has been executive director
of the Ittleson Foundation. He has been an adjunct associate professor of His-
toric Preservation in the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture
Planning and Preservation. He holds a MA in Urban Planning from the Uni-
versity of Illinois, is a graduate of Kenyon College, and was a Historic Deerfield
Summer Fellow. For more than 30 years, Wood has served on a variety of pres-
ervation boards from small local grassroots organizations to large national nonprofits. He has
served as chair of the Drayton Hall Site Advisory Council and is currently a trustee of the Dray-
ton Hall Preservation Trust.
Editor’s note: We faced an
impossible challenge in this issue
of Interiors, which was selecting
the images to accompany the
cover story on Dr. McDaniel’s
legacy. Even if we had the entire
issue to do so, we would have
only scratched the surface. For
more about George, please visit
our blog, the Drayton Hall Diaries,
at www.draytonhall.wordpress.com.
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7. i n t e r i o r s s p r i n g s u m m e r 2 0 1 5
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Landscape Update: Historic Wetland Conservation Plan Implementation
by Eric Becker, Manager of Landscapes, Horticulture, and Modern Facilities
Later this year work will begin on the conservation and
enhancement of the historic rice fields and ponds at Drayton
Hall. Located in a natural watercourse at a mid-point on the
property, a series of dikes, canals, ponds, diverters, and seg-
mented fields were dug late in the 17th
century, prior to the
construction of Drayton Hall, to make the cultivation of rice
possible. Over the years, the Drayton family altered the use
of the rice fields, leaving the main freshwater reservoir and
some canals intact which served as part of the ornamental
English-style landscape and as a piscatory. By the early 1900s,
phosphate mining had impacted the ponds with construction
of a narrow gauge rail line dividing the ponds into four sec-
tions, two of which retain water to date. Finally, maintenance
of the dikes and ponds was reduced and a slow reclamation
of this once-agrarian system began to transition back to a
more natural state.
Today, the dikes and water control systems are compromised
or failed. Additionally, silting and invasive plants have con-
tributed to limited water depth of a poor quality. The current
wetland forest surrounding the ponds is comprised of few native
plants; instead, there are many invasive plants, resulting in a
limited diversification of all native species. Faced with these
deteriorating conditions, the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust,
in association with Ducks Unlimited, the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, and Folk Land Management, initiated a management
plan for conservation of the historic dike system, replacement
of failed water control structures, greater enhancement of the
water quality, and diversification of the native environment
within five acres of this historic landscape.
Implementation of this plan requires the draining of the exist-
ing ponds that, when dry, will remove the destructive vegetation
from the dikes and the deep organic sediment on the pond
bottom. Concurrently, replacement of failed and inadequate
water control pipes and spillways will occur, while excavation
of mineral soil from the ponds is used to re-top the worn dikes
and increase the overall depth of the ponds. Care will be taken
to establish plant shelves for desired aquatics as well as nesting
habitats for wetland-loving birds. A new cross dike and spillway
will allow for seasonal flooding of 23 acres surrounding the
permanent historic pond—areas once flooded for rice cultiva-
tion—which will provide a greater habitat for both migrating
and resident waterfowl.
Once the major work is completed and the ground has settled,
a new interpretive trail and viewing area will be added, allow-
ing interactive access to a much-overlooked segment of the
historic Drayton landscape. Additionally, the history of inland
rice cultivation, the Drayton period of land use, the impact of
phosphate mining in the late 1900s, and the need for conser-
vation of historical features within the context of a 21st
century
wetland, will be interpreted. This project has been made possi-
ble from the generous support of the Gail and Parker Gilbert
Landscape Fund, with major support from Ducks Unlimited,
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the many friends and
members of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust.
UPDATE ON PROJECTS

8. d r ay t o n h a l l
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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Meet Shelia Harrell-Roye, Our New Curator of
Education and Public Engagement
The Drayton Hall Preservation
Trust is pleased to announce that
Shelia Harrell-Roye has assumed
the position of Curator of Edu-
cation & Public Engagement.
A native of Charleston, Shelia
comes to Drayton Hall with an
extensive background in public
history, American history, and
educational outreach. Her associ-
ation with Drayton Hall began in
2006, when she served as a part-
time educator and historical interpreter. As her leadership skills,
dependability, and passion for the site and its history became
readily apparent, within a year of her initial hire she earned a
promotion to Visitor Services Manager, supervising daily site
operations and the frontline staff. She departed Drayton Hall
in 2010 to return to her alma mater, the College of Charleston,
and earned an M.A. in History (with concentration in African
American history), under the direction of Dr. Bernard Pow-
ers. Shelia then spent several years working for the college’s
Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture,
serving as their Education Outreach Coordinator, where she
managed public programs and developed educational mate-
rials for neighboring schools and colleges. With her extensive
experience in educational programming, American history,
and public outreach, she was a natural choice to lead the edu-
cational staff in its peak season, and jumped in to fill the role
of Interim Curator of Education at Drayton Hall in February
2015. After several months in an interim capacity, she officially
assumed her new role as Curator of Education & Public Engage-
ment in August. In this new position, Shelia hopes to not only
create new and dynamic public programming at Drayton Hall,
but to also build strong alliances with schools/colleges and
neighboring organizations to continue to raise Drayton Hall’s
profile in the local community. Please join us in welcoming
Shelia Harrell-Roye (back) to the Drayton Hall team!
This is the just-about-true story of
real-life characters who loved a
grand old house and the natural
beauty of its surroundings on the
Ashley River of Charleston, South
Carolina. Join Nipper, an ener-
getic little dog, and his beloved
Charlotta Drayton as they travel
from Charleston’s Battery to his-
toric Drayton Hall and spend a
spring day in 1916 where Nipper
plays with his friend, eight-year-
old Richmond Bowens. Both Charlotta and Richmond have
family ties to Drayton Hall going back many generations, and
both do their part to preserve the history and spirit of their
families’ homes. With his ever-present red ball, Nipper lets his
curiosity—and Charlotta’s and Richmond’s lessons—guide his
adventures. To order, call our Museum Shop at 843.769.2610.
AMEY PARSONS LEWIS is a former
teacher living with her husband on
Wadmalaw Island near Charleston,
South Carolina. She earned a B.A.
in English from Francis Marion Uni-
versity and holds dear her forty-year
association with Drayton Hall and the
Drayton family. A mother of three and
grandmother of seven, Lewis has a
lifelong love of reading and teach-
ing, which led her to write Nipper of Drayton Hall, her first book.
Artist GERRY McELROY is a graduate of the Parsons School
of Design. A freelance artist and art instructor, McElroy is the
mother of three and now lives at Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
Young Palmetto Books – Kim Shealy Jeffcoat, series editor.
Release Date: October 2015. 48 pages, 24 color illustrations.
Royalties benefit the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust.
"Nipper of Drayton Hall" by Amey Parsons Lewis
Illustrated by Gerry McElroy
Remembering Janie Clayton
It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved friend and colleague of many years passed
away on May 9th. Janie always had a welcoming smile, a twinkle in her eye, and a warm heart—when
visitors arrived in our museum shop, she made them feel at home. To honor her wonderful life,
her family, friends, and the staff of Drayton Hall gathered here on the banks of the Ashley River. As
her daughter, Natalie Bell, said, “Drayton Hall was in her soul.”

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RISING FROM THE ASHES. . .
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF WOOD FAMILY FELLOWSHIP AT
DRAYTON HALL
by carter c. Hudgins, Ph.D., acting president and executive director
On August 5, 1980, tragedy struck Drayton Hall.
Young preservationist Stephen Wood was busy repairing the
Drayton main house as part of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation Restoration Workshop when the supporting scaf-
folding gave way. He fell to the ground below and later that day
succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind his parents Tanya
and Leonard, brothers Anthony and John, and sister Sarah.
Some 24 years later, misfortune revisited the Wood family as
the lives of parents Leonard and Tanya were claimed
by an automobile accident while traveling east of their
home in Charleston, Illinois.
Amidst such tragedies, Dray-
ton Hall has served as both a
family memorial and source
of inspiration for Anthony
“Tony” Wood. While his
brother’s life was taken by
work at Drayton Hall, it was
work Stephen loved and the
site endures today as both a
monument to our American
past and the contemporary
efforts undertaken by pres-
ervationists, such as Stephen,
to preserve our national trea-
sures. Moreover, Tony and his
brothers and sister were reared
on the lessons of history and the value of preservation taught
by their loving parents. For Tony is not only an advocate for
historic preservation, but has served on the board of numer-
ous preservation organizations, including the Drayton Hall
Preservation Trust. Thus for Tony, Drayton Hall furthers an
important cycle begun by his parents and followed by his sib-
lings that spans from education, to preservation, to advocacy
and leadership.
To further the legacy of his brother and parents, Tony and his
husband, Anthony Badalamenti, established the Wood Family
Fellowship at Drayton Hall in 2005. Such a program has been
one of the most significant contributions to the initiatives of
Drayton Hall as nine fellows have dramatically increased the
scholarship and stewardship of Drayton Hall and associated
resources. By design, the Fellowship is intended to foster the
care and research of Drayton Hall while providing guidance
and inspiration to rising scholars in the fields of history, his-
toric preservation, archaeology, anthropology, decorative arts,
and architectural history. Over the course of the last ten years,
Wood Fellows have piloted decorative arts research, developed
an archaeological program, completed scholarly recordings of
historic architecture, created a preservation archive, probed
the site’s Civil War history, conducted oral histories, and begun
to catalog Drayton Hall’s rich archaeological collection. The
Fellowship has also had a continual effect on staffing at
Drayton Hall as past Fellows
Carter C. Hudgins, Sarah
Stroud Clarke, and Patri-
cia Smith presently serve as
the site's Acting Executive
Director, Archaeologist and
Curator of Collections, and
Curator of Historic Architec-
tural Resources, respectively.
Like the phoenix, stories of
preservation success have risen
from the past tragedies expe-
rienced by the Wood family.
Drayton Hall is forever grateful
for the vision, wisdom and lead-
ership of the Wood family in both
the past and the present.
On Thursday, September 17, Drayton Hall will celebrate ten
years of successful Wood Family Fellows as part of the 2015 Dis-
tinguished Speakers Series. Special thanks go to Richard and
Jill Almeida for sponsoring the lecture. Further support pro-
vided by the Francis Marion Hotel. ( S E E B A C K C O V E R )
Left: Preservationist Stephen Wood (1953 – 1980). Right L – R: Executive
Director George W. McDaniel, Leonard C. and Tanya B. Wood, and Anthony C.
Wood at a Drayton Hall memorial program for Stephen Wood, August 2000.
L – r: Past Fellows Sarah Stroud Clarke, Carter C. Hudgins, & Patricia Smith.

10. d r ay t o n h a l l
10
SPECIAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Archaeology and Collections
$5,000 – Assessment of Drayton Hall’s collections by an
independent conservator, resulting in the development
of a collections conservation plan and conservation
cost for each piece of furniture in the collection (Left,
Pier Table).
$15,000 – Purchase of two museum exhibit cases and
installation of interpretive signage, UV window film
to conserve artifacts, and reading rail in the Visitors
Center – the late 19th
-century, red caretaker’s house,
which houses the gift shop and new interpretive elements.
$5,000 – Acquisition and conservation of The Botanical Maga-
zine by William Curtis, volumes III-XIV (published 1790-1800)
– the entire volume or individual prints, as available. Charles
Drayton took handwritten excerpts from these works highlight-
ing fourteen plants he found of great interest—his Desiderata
(pictured)—and might have purchased for Drayton Hall. These
volumes will aid in landscape planning and site interpretation.
$1,000 – Traditional Charleston benches are located across
the Drayton Hall landscape, offering guests a place to rest and
reflect during their time on-site. Four-foot benches may be
named in honor of or in memory of a loved one, with a high-
quality brass plaque commemorating your wishes in perpetuity.
(Eight-foot benches may be named for $2,000.)
Landscape, Horticulture, & Modern Facilities
Historic Architectural Resources
$500,000 – Structural stabilization:
strengthening the floors, stairs, and his-
toric plaster ceilings in the main house.
$10,000 – Erecting scaffolding and
repairing the failing plaster ceiling in
the stair hall of the main house (below).
$10,000 – Conservation of historic paint
in the main house, halting paint loss.
$75,000 – Addition of a full-time Pres-
ervation Associate, allowing the Curator
of Historic Architectural Resources time
to complete a three dimensional digital
model of Drayton Hall.
Education and Public Engagement
$3,000 – Purchase of additional “green”
benches for our Education programs –
replacing our fleet of rotting wooden
benches with environmentally friendly,
rot- and splinter-resistant seating for use
by visiting students.
Good Stewardship is Forever, But Special Projects Can't Wait
by steve mount, director of philanthropy
The many loyal Friends of Drayton Hall and generous donors help sustain the authenticity of the Drayton Hall
experience. However, at any given time there are numerous special projects, typically not part of the budget process, which are
essential to conserving the site and enhancing our guests’ experience at Drayton Hall. Please contact Steve Mount, director of
philanthropy, at 843-769-2601 or smount@draytonhall.org, if you would like to share your philanthropic leadership to support
one (or more) of the following projects:
For information on additional
Special Giving Opportunities visit:
www.draytonhall.org/donate/special-projects
Photo by Russell Buskirk
Stair Hall, Photo by Willie Graham

11. i n t e r i o r s s p r i n g s u m m e r 2 0 1 5
11
I first visited Drayton Hall in the late 1990s; I was a
young mother with a small child at home and, at my husband’s
suggestion, I took a three-day weekend, traveling to Charles-
ton on my own for a little rest and relaxation. While taking
the house tour, I was struck by the preservation philosophy
that our guide described—to preserve Drayton Hall “just as
the National Trust had received it from the Drayton family in
1974.” This was a very different approach from other historic
homes that I had visited, and I was intrigued.
What I really appreciated was that Drayton Hall wasn’t a res-
toration frozen in time. Instead, the Trust chose to showcase
its architectural “bones” dating back to its original construc-
tion, while preserving the layers of change that were added in
subsequent generations. By being sensitive to the fabric of the
building and maintaining the integrity of the structure while
not allowing it to fall into disrepair, Drayton Hall was (and is)
being preserved as a true timeline of history.
I’ve always been interested in Early American history—in fact,
I was considering a Masters in History at the time of my first
visit, which is what drew me to Drayton Hall, because it was so
deeply evocative of the period. By joining the Friends of Dray-
ton Hall, I was able to keep up with new developments through
the member newsletters and other communications. I remem-
ber reading about the outline of the slave cemetery that had
been rediscovered on a 1790s map, and thinking, “This place
is so ripe for learning, I have to be part of it!’
A turning point in my desire to further my relationship with
Drayton Hall occurred while pursuing my Master’s degree.
My reading focused on early South Carolina, from its rice cul-
ture and slave economy to the uprising of the Stono Rebellion.
One book in particular stood out, The Black Majority, by Peter
H. Wood, which influenced my growing interest in African
American history.
In discussions with staff, I learned more about the hundreds
of thousands of artifacts that had been recovered archaeologi-
cally, but that were still waiting to be cataloged and researched.
The potential for learning more from these unearthed trea-
sures was enormous and I realized that this is where I could
make a difference.
Working with Steve Mount, director of philanthropy, and Carter
C. Hudgins, acting executive director, we developed the idea
for the Deborah and Peter Wexler Curatorial Fellow, a two-year,
full-time position that would help Drayton Hall catalog its
million-plus excavated artifacts. Reporting to Drayton Hall’s
Archaeologist and Curator of Collections Sarah Stroud
Clarke, the Wexler Fellow will catalog the archaeological
collection through Drayton Hall’s partnership with the Digital
Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (DAACS),
which was developed at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. This
new position will help contribute to a greater understanding
of the material culture of the past, thus giving a voice to
those who came before, especially African Americans who
left little in the way of written records. I’m also delighted that
this opportunity will help to launch or further the career of
a young professional at one of the most iconic of colonial
American historic sites, Drayton Hall.
DONOR PROFILE
From Casual Visitor to Avid Supporters: Deborah and Peter Wexler
by deborah wexler
About Deborah and Peter Wexler
Deborah and Peter met at Boston University School of Manage-
ment. Peter is co-founder of SpiderCloud Wireless, a company
developing small cell technology that allows mobile telecom
operators to deliver high bandwidth services to enterprise cus-
tomers. Their son Ben is a student at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign and is pursuing his Bachelor of Science
in Aerospace Engineering.
Photography by Stephanie Fullerton

12. 3380 Ashley River Road | Charleston, SC 29414
º
Total Recovered Fiber
All Post-Consumer Fiber
10%
The 2015 Drayton Hall Distinguished Speakers Series resumes September 17th with a
presentation by Dr. Carter C. Hudgins, Acting President and Executive Director of the
Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, entitled “Preserving the Past, Preparing the Future: Cel-
ebrating Ten Years of Wood Family Fellows at Drayton Hall.” Dr. Hudgins will be joined
by Fellowship Founder and Drayton Hall Preservation Trust Board Member Anthony C.
Wood, along with former Fellows and current staff members, Sarah Stroud Clarke and
Patricia Smith, to examine the multidisciplinary research supported by the annual Fel-
lowship. Special thanks go to Richard and Jill Almeida for sponsoring the lecture. Further
support provided by the Francis Marion Hotel.
September 17, 2015
Carter C. Hudgins, Ph.D.
Acting President and Executive Director
Drayton Hall Preservation Trust
October 15, 2015
Suzanne F. Hood
Curator of Ceramics and Glass at
Colonial Williamsburg
November 19, 2015
Cary Carson, Ph.D.
Colonial Williamsburg (retired)
South Carolina Society Hall
72 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401
For details, visit draytonhalldistinguishedspeakers.org
A Curated Tour of Bermuda
with Drayton Hall:
Exploring the Colonial Transatlantic World
May 8 – 13, 2016
Join us as we depart Charleston for another
influential colonial destination: Bermuda. This
very special six-day excursion includes tours of
private homes and collections, exclusive access
to Parliament, luxury accommodations at a
private beach resort, and more. We hope you
can join us! Space is strictly limited.
For booking and more information visit:
www.draytonhall.org/visit/events-calendar
All images are courtesy of the drayton hall preservation trust unless otherwise noted.