CEO of Middleton Place Foundation to Retire
Tracey Todd to step down after a long career of service to the Foundation and the community
Charleston, SC, The Board of Trustees of the Middleton Place Foundation announces the retirement of Tracey Todd from his position as President and CEO. Beth Kerrigan, VP of Advancement, will be serving as Interim.
Tracey’s thirty-three-year career with Middleton Place Foundation began as a guide at the Edmondston-Alston House while studying at the College of Charleston. He held several leadership positions in the organization and was named President and CEO in 2018, with the retirement of Founder Charles H.P. Duell.
Throughout Tracey’s remarkable journey with Middleton Place Foundation, he has shown unwavering commitment to the vital mission to inspire, educate, and enact positive change through understanding American history. He coauthored Beyond the Fields, Slavery at Middleton Place and is a frequent lecturer at regional and national museum and preservation conferences. Tracey produced two documentary films, including Middleton Place: A Phoenix Still Rising and the PBS documentary Beyond the Fields: Slavery at Middleton Place. Tracey also secured Middleton Place Foundation’s most important collection item, Ashley’s Sack, which is currently on long-term loan at the International African American Museum.
One of his greatest self-professed successes was building relationships with Middleton descendants, both European and African descent. In 2006, Tracey was instrumental in facilitating the first reunion, bringing all the descendants of Middleton Place together, and in 2020, he fostered the successful launch of an education assistance program for African American descendants of Middleton Place. Furthermore, Tracey built strong relationships with the local community, governments and cultural organizations, advancing the importance of the history and culture of the Low Country.
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from Middleton Place Foundation,” said Tracey Todd. “The decision to step down was not an easy one, but I am confident that this remarkable institution will continue to flourish under the leadership of its committed Board of Trustees and a strong team of staff and volunteers.”
The Board of Trustees profoundly thanks Tracey for his tireless efforts and exceptional leadership. As Tracey embarks on a new chapter, the board is committed to continuing Middleton Place Foundation’s tradition of excellence in historic preservation, research and education.
Read Post and Courier Article Here
About Middleton Place Foundation
Located in Charleston, SC, Middleton Place Foundation, a public, non-profit educational trust, is responsible for effectively operating and preserving Middleton Place National Historic Landmark and the Edmondston-Alston House. Middleton Place Foundation’s mission is to connect people with the past, inspiring a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other through understanding American history. The Foundation upholds the highest levels of historic preservation, research, education, and inclusive interpretation by sharing the stories of the Africans, African Americans, and Europeans who lived and worked on these historic properties.
For decades, Middleton Place Foundation has provided educational programs to the public. Based on ongoing historical research, Middleton Place historians, interpretive guides, artisan craftspeople, and educators offer authentic experiences that inspire people to deepen and broaden their perspectives of our nation’s shared history and ourselves. The history at Middleton Place spans three centuries of one family, including a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the essential stories and contributions of over 3200 enslaved people who lived and labored here. With access to Middleton Place’s 110 acres, America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens, House Museum, and Stableyards, and Eliza’s House, each year, over 100,000 visitors and over 6,000 students and teachers come and explore our shared American history.
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