The Georgia Historical Society Research Center. Photo by Richard Johnson.
SAVANNAH, GA, May 18, 2022 – The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is pleased to announce that it has received two historic preservation awards for the recent renovation and expansion of the GHS Research Center. GHS received an Excellence in Stewardship award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and a Preservation Award from the Historic Savannah Foundation. The awards recognized the Georgia Historical Society’s use of best practices in historic preservation and its long-term care and stewardship of Hodgson Hall and the Research Center.
“We are honored to accept these awards in historic preservation,” says Laura García-Culler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Historical Society. “Throughout the renovations, we wanted to blend the old with the new, making sure the necessary upgrades did not negatively impact the original design and integrity of the building.”
The awards follow a successful three-year, $5 million renovation and expansion of the Georgia Historical Society’s Research Center. This was the largest capital project in the history of GHS, which included a new archival wing and updates to the historic Hodgson Hall and Abrahams Archival Annex. Additional improvements included renovated and reconfigured spaces for archival processing, digitization, and specialized storage and updates to security, ventilation, and fire suppression systems.
“We are deeply grateful to our project partners, JTVS Builders, Inc., Lynch Associates Architects, and Plum Design West for helping us complete this once-in-a-generation renovation and expansion,” says García-Culler. “Their talented work and craftsmanship represent an extraordinary contribution to Savannah’s architectural landscape. Thanks to this wonderful collaboration in historic preservation, we can better fulfill our statewide educational and research mission for many years to come.”
Hodgson Hall has served as the permanent headquarters of GHS since its construction in 1876. Designed by the American Institute of Architect’s founder Detlef Lienau, Hodgson Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was a gift of Margaret Telfair Hodgson and Mary Telfair as a memorial to William B. Hodgson, a prominent Savannah citizen, American diplomat, and scholar of the Middle East.
The GHS Research Center houses the oldest collection of Georgia history materials in the nation—five million manuscripts, documents, photographs, rare books, and artifacts. It is used by over 60,000 researchers each year, ranging from professional historians to teachers and documentary film makers such as the History Channel, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and the BBC.
For more information about the renovation and expansion of the GHS Research Center, contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Communications, at (912) 651-2125, ext. 153 or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.