The Women of Savannah's History

Susie King Taylor was born an enslaved child until she was permitted to live with her freed grandmother in Savannah. Susie was educated in secret and, at just 14 years old, became the first black teacher to educate African Americans in Georgia. Later in life, Susie served as a nurse to the regiment, thanks to her husband Edward's service in the United States Colored Infantry. This was another victory for Susie, serving as the first black nurse during the American Civil War. Susie later opened a school in Savannah for African American children and even published a memoir detailing her time with the 33rd United States Colored Troops. 

Did you know? The Susie King Taylor Community School in Savannah was dedicated in 2015 to honor her life as an educator.  And, the square formerly known as Calhoun Square is now Taylor Square.

Mary Marshall was a true businesswoman in Savannah and a force to be reckoned with. Mary developed multiple properties in Savannah, including The Marshall House, located on iconic Broughton Street. For 63 years, she served as the landlord at The Marshall House, assisting in filling the need for housing and accommodations in the city. The home even served as a hospital during the Yellow Fever epidemic in the 1800s. It was restored and closed between 1859-1895. The hotel was fully restored in 1899 and reopened in 1999, making it Savannah's oldest hotel.

The oil painting of Mary Marshall in The Marshall House was obtained from the estate of Jim Williams, the protagonist in John Berendt's book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

It's not enough to say that Addie Byrd Byers was a Civil Rights pioneer. Hailing from Liberty County, GA. A graduate of Beach High School, Savannah State and Columbia University - Addie was a committed educator and member of the NAACP. She demanded equal rights and expected excellence from and for the black community. She was responsible for the desegregation of Savannah's libraries, for which she was awarded the NAACP Freedom Award in 1985.

Did you know? Addie eventually became the first African American woman to join the Chatham-Effingham-Liberty Regional Library board.

Savannah was on the brink of economic deterioration post-World War II. The city's buildings and homes were empty or demolished, locals were leaving downtown and crime was at an all-time high. Once word got out that the 1820 Isaiah Davenport House would become a parking lot, activist and journalist Anna Colquit Hunter sprung into action. Anna and six friends, Lucy Barrow McIntire, Elinor Adler Dillard, Nola McEvoy Roos, Jane Adair Wright, Katherine Judkins Clark and Dorothy Ripley Roebling, blocked the wreckage, and the Historic Savannah Foundation was born. They purchased the property for $22,500. This purchase marked the beginning of Savnnah's very own avengers to save the city's endangered buildings from becoming rubble.

Did you know? Since the 1960s, HSF has saved more than 400 historic buildings in Savannah with its private Revolving Fund.