Historic Savannah Foundation’s lecture series, “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah,”  will feature lectures covering a wide range of speakers and topics. Each lecturer will give a presentation on a subject that falls within the realm of their expertise followed by a question-and-answer session.

Luciana Spracher

CITY OF SAVANNAH ARCHIVES & HISTORY OFFICER

Discovering Savannah’s Municipal Cemeteries, Past and Present

October 16 | 6:00 PM

HSF is delighted to welcome Luciana Spracher, the City of Savannah’s Archives & History Officer, as the October speaker for our lecture series, “The People, Stories, and Places that define Savannah.” Ms. Spracher will be presenting on “Discovering Savannah’s Municipal Cemeteries, Past and Present” on Thursday, October 16 at 6:00 pm.

Join Luciana in a special discovery of Savannah’s municipal cemeteries. Learn about the development of Savannah’s public cemeteries, trace past burial grounds through historic maps and records, and walk away with a new appreciation for what makes each of our municipal cemeteries special and unique today.

The lecture will take place in the Murray C. Perlman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center located within the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy at 323 E. Broughton Street. Attendees are invited to a wine reception at 5:30 pm and the discussion will start at 6:00 pm. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Attendance is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. Members may RSVP by emailing Kendall Graham at [email protected] or calling 912-233-7787, ext. 109 and non-members may purchase tickets at the link above.

Bio

Luciana Spracher is the Director of the City of Savannah’s Municipal Archives, and prior to that served as the City’s first Archivist.  At the Municipal Archives, she oversees the City’s records management program, archival collections, and local history outreach. Major projects currently underway include the interior restoration of Savannah’s 1906 City Hall building, the redevelopment of the 1926 Springfield Terrace School building, and the expansion of the Savannah Community Memory Project to document and preserve the unique histories of Savannah’s diverse communities. Before coming to the City, she was the owner and principal of Bricks & Bones Historical Research specializing in architectural and local history and worked as a project archivist for the Georgia Historical Society, the Savannah Jewish Archives, and the Catholic Diocese of Savannah Archives.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design in Historic Preservation and a Master’s in Public History from Armstrong Atlantic State University.  She is the author of Lost Savannah, A History of Thunderbolt, Georgia, and co-editor of Voices of Savannah: Selections from the Oral History Collection of the Savannah Jewish Archives.

Special Tour

Laurel Grove North Cemetery

led by JOHN BRANNEN

October 18 | 10:00 AM

HSF is thrilled to offer its first exclusive cemetery tour of Laurel Grove North! Join us on Saturday, October 18 at 10:00 AM for an exciting hour of exploration as we visit the gravesites of some of Savannah’s most influential (but less often visited) builders, philanthropists, artists, and authors. Our guide, John Brannen, has worked with the city’s Cemetery Division for seven years and has previously given tours of the neighboring Laurel Grove South cemetery. As we explore Laurel Grove North, we will wind through the aging aisles of this beautiful Victorian cemetery that doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves compared to other cemeteries (looking at you, Bonaventure!)  

Laurel Grove North Cemetery is located at 802 W. Anderson Street. Guests will meet at the gazebo just inside the entrance to the cemetery. Parking is available anywhere inside the cemetery provided you don’t block any aisles. Bring your walking shoes! This tour is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. Space is limited to 30 people. Members may RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling 912-233-7787 ext. 109 and non-members may purchase tickets at www.myhsf.org/events/lecture-series.

DON’T MISS OUR UPCOMING LECTURES & TOURS!

Mark your calendar and we hope to see you there!

Attendees are invited to a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. to meet & mingle with HSF members and staff. The discussion will start at 6 p.m.

We take a ‘lecture break’ in July and December.