GCSU bids farewell to museum director Davis

Jun. 28—A keeper of local history is bound for a new destination.

Matthew Davis, director of historic museums at Georgia College & State University, has accepted a role as director of institutional history and museums at Virginia's Washington and Lee University.

Since 2013, Davis has overseen operations at some of Milledgeville's top tourist stops, including Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion. In his time at GCSU, he has also had charge over the Sallie Ellis Davis House and Andalusia, home of famed author Flannery O'Connor.

"It's bittersweet," Davis said. "It was an incredible opportunity, and I'm very thankful to Washington and Lee for entrusting me with this. But Milledgeville is a place where I have a lot of history and a lot of love for, so it's hard to say goodbye. I think I'm leaving in good stead. As a steward of these sites, we're the holders of the keys until the next one comes along. I feel like I've done a lot to move these sites forward, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next."

Next for Davis is a large undertaking at Washington and Lee. Established in 1749, the 325-acre campus has no shortage of history as one of the country's oldest institutions of higher learning. Dually-named for George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the university's campus includes a chapel that serves as Lee's final resting place.

Davis will take his know-how when it comes to curating history and literally build a museum for Washington and Lee from the ground up.

"In my new role I'll be reinterpreting their national historic landmark chapel and also building for them a new 40,000-square foot museum that will have a focus on campus and institutional history," Davis said.

It's an area the longtime museum director has experience in. When GCSU acquired Andalusia in 2017, the college soon after began putting plans together for what became the Andalusia Interpretive Center that opened last year. Visible from Highway 441 and separate from the O'Connor family farmhouse, the Center houses exhibits and artifacts that tell the writer's story living on the property until her 1964 death due to complications from lupus.

Overseeing the Andalusia Interpretive Center project from concept to completion was something Davis called a personal highlight from his time with GCSU. That and helping the Old Governor's Mansion obtain status as an accredited museum with the American Alliance of Museums along with affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution. Andalusia just two years ago was also designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.

"Matt, there's no way to replace you here with everything you've done for us. Cheers to you," GCSU President Cathy Cox said at a reception honoring Davis Wednesday. "We wish you the best, but we certainly will miss you."

Old Governor's Mansion curator of education and public engagement Dani Schulze has been named interim director. GCSU has begun a search to fill Davis's role full-time.