Esther Beaumont, friend and donor, explains her point of view in my book, Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and Its People.
What led you to donate to Drayton Hall and to name a building the George W. McDaniel Education Center?
“I believe in giving money when alive and seeing how it’s used. So I told you, George, when you were about to retire, that I wanted to do something. We chatted about the possibilities of building a simple structure where school groups and regular visitors could gather and participate in programs. That segued into discussions about having a visitors’ complex, which had been a goal for years. I said, ‘Well, why not?’
“In addition, I liked the Kennedy Library, a charming Georgian recreation that fit.
“I chose to make major gifts to Ashley Hall and to Drayton Hall because they are locally based and part of my childhood in Charleston. I liked the design for Drayton Hall’s visitors’ center with exhibits, educational spaces, gift shop, and restrooms, all incorporated around a large live oak and garden.
“The center offers visitors a background in history and inspires support. Drayton Hall is educational and needed an educational building. Since I knew you, George, not the Draytons or others, I wanted it named after you.
How do you think technology and the experience of place affect education?
“As we move further into technology and virtual reality, the experience of a place like Drayton Hall can bring visitors back to reality. I do, of course, see positive things about virtual reality because you can show how different things have evolved.
“On the other hand, getting out of the classroom and using Drayton Hall as a venue for education is critical. Students learn about simple things like the joy of archaeology, what pot shards can tell you, and the construction techniques of furniture. Let’s find out how to spark interest.
“Drayton Hall could use history to link people together. It could show that if you’re an American, unless you’re a Native American, you’re an immigrant from someplace else. Wherever people came from, even if you were enslaved from Africa, we have all become a part of the same world. As individuals, we can learn from each other and benefit by working toward common goals.
That’s what America is all about.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
George W. McDaniel, PhD, is the President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and to its broader constituents. For 25 years, he served as the Executive Director of Drayton Hall, a historic site in Charleston, SC. A native of Atlanta, he earned a BA from Sewanee, a MAT (history) from Brown University, and PhD (history) from Duke. Interspersed through those years were travels to many places — Europe, Africa, Vietnam — where he saw peace and war and learned by experience about cultural differences and commonalities. For 40 years, he built a career working in education and history museums, beginning with the Smithsonian Institution, and earning awards at the local, state, and national levels.
“Building Bridges through History”
The company’s tagline is grounded in McDaniel’s personal beliefs and his professional experience. Services address site management, preservation, education, board development, fundraising, community outreach, and more.
Rather than using history to divide us, McDaniel helps organizations use history, especially local history, to enhance cross-cultural understanding and to support local museums, preservation, and education.
Turning Beliefs into Actions
Dr. McDaniel led volunteer efforts with Emanuel AME Church and historical organizations in Charleston to use historic preservation to enhance racial reconciliation and healing.
A frequent writer, speaker, and facilitator, reach him at gmcdaniel4444@gmail.com or through his website www.mcdanielconsulting.net.
Images courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted.
McDaniel Consulting LLC is a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and its broader constituents. 