"Faith in Education: 19th-Century African American Education in Savannah"

Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), which is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary, will feature Savannah Archaeological Alliance founder Laura Seifert as a guest speaker on Thurs., Sept. 18 at the Murray C. Perlman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center, located in the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy at 323 E. Broughton St. in Savannah, Ga. Seifert will discuss "Faith in Education: 19th-Century African American Education in Savannah" as part of the 2025 Historic Savannah Foundation Lecture Series, "The People, Places and Stories That Define Savannah." Attendees are invited to attend a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. The lecture will start at 6 p.m.

Following emancipation, education was considered an urgent priority in the African American community. Demand was high, but resources were scarce. Underfunding, lack of infrastructure, insufficient staffing, racism, and segregation shaped Savannah's earliest public and private schools. With few exceptions, such as the Beach Institute and Haven Home Industrial School in Savannah, most schools popped up and disappeared quickly.