05/05/2026
Fantastic, free public program - Thursday, May 21 - Lecture at 5:30, Reception at 6:30
Limited space. Seating reservations required.
Happy Historic Preservation Month - Come here about a Savannah landscape architect of note! Clermont Lee!
GREEN-MELDRIM HOUSE/ANDREW LOW HOUSE partnership program for National Historic Preservation Month.
CLERMONT LEE:
A PIONEERING WOMAN IN LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
Retired historic preservation professional CED DOLDER (1914-2006) will speak on Clermont Lee at Cranmer Hall, 27 East Charlton Street on Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. The GMH will welcome attendees with a reception to follow.
Lee was one of the first women to establish her own landscape architecture practice in Georgia. In 2017 she was posthumously inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement. She is also an inductee in SCAD’s Women of Vision. In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month and the twentieth anniversary of Lee’s passing, Dolder will celebrate and enlighten on Lee, who was one of Savannah’s own!
About Dolder: Until her retirement Ced Dolder worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Historic Preservation Division, advising prospective applicants on the technical procedures and regulations for federal and state tax incentive programs for the rehabilitation of historic properties. She also has experience as an independent historic preservation consultant involved in a broad range of projects throughout the Southeast, consulting with private developers and governmental agencies. Her special interest while consulting was historic gardens and landscapes and their link to historic preservation. While researching women’s history for a National Register nomination in 2000, she became interested in the Georgia work of early 20th century female landscape architects, spotlighting Savannah’s Clermont Lee. Before her death in 2006, Lee granted an interview to Ms. Dolder which provided an interesting personal edge to her research. Ms. Dolder has since published articles about Clermont Lee in the New Georgia Encyclopedia and Shaping the American Landscape. She received a Masters in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University in 1996. She continues her interest and work in historic gardens as a volunteer and advocate.
- On Friday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m. beginning at the Andrew Low House, there will be an urban landscape walk of Lee’s garden.
Both events are free and open to the public. Reservations are required. Please let Jamie know you plan to attend or call Chris Sergi (912-233-1828 X102) at the Andrew Low House, who is keeping the official attendee list.
