Women Shaped This Place

Written by George H. McDaniel

Director of Interpretation at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Julia Drayton Hastie, captured in 1891

Often when one considers a place like Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, there is an emphasis on the long line of men to whom the plantation passed through generations following the tradition of primogeniture. Magnolia’s storied history, however, contains an astounding array of women who have forever left an indelible mark upon this beautiful place along the Ashley River. For Women’s History Month, we want to uplift and celebrate a few of these women who represent generations of women—Black and White, enslaved and free, past and present—whose influence resonates to this day. Women shaped this place. It is no overstatement to say that without their abiding presence, this place and these gardens would not be the same and may well not even be here for all to enjoy. 

Ann Fox Drayton shaped what would become known as Magnolia in a quite literal sense. When Ann’s husband, Thomas Drayton II, died in 1716, she was left with four children and the 402-acre property that she and her husband had received from Ann’s father, Stephen Fox. While primogeniture dictated Ann’s oldest son, Thomas Drayton III, to inherit the estate, he was but eight years old, leaving Ann to take control. Ann demonstrated her aptitude for real estate and increased the size of this specific property by nearly 65%, acquiring 260 acres from John Cattell. This was all in addition to managing four other plantations consisting of just over 3,000 acres, along with nearly 100 enslaved individuals, 1400 heads of cattle, and 112 horses. She not only managed it, but she also increased her holdings, and did so all while raising four young children!

Nearly two centuries later, Julia Drayton Hastie inherited Magnolia following her father’s death and became the only woman to solely own the property. Julia undoubtedly shaped the property in the most clearly visible manner to all visitors who come to Magnolia. When she inherited her father’s estate, there was but a four-room cottage as the main house. Julia doubled the size of that cottage and created the Victorian manor seen today—minus the large columns added in 1995— which is an iconic image of Magnolia. The Magnolia House Tour is a tour shaped by her vision.

Aunt Phoebe, captured in 1900

Over the centuries, Black women—enslaved and free—have shaped this place in ways visible and invisible. Currently, Magnolia has identified the names of 537 enslaved individuals across nearly two centuries. Women named Affee and Sikee; Rose and Belinda; and Nanny and Dinah; speaking their names acknowledges their enduring contributions to this place despite their enslavement in life. 

There are others whose faces we know but names we do not. An early 20th-century photograph identified as “Garden Staff” reveals the faces of those who worked to make Magnolia’s gardens so beautiful. Another photograph from 1900, taken by the renowned William Henry Jackson, identifies a woman sweeping a garden path as Aunt Phoebe. Surrounding her, the azalea blooms explode even in the black and white medium. As writer Herb Frazier once put it in describing the beauty of Magnolia, “Black hands sculpted the land into an inspiring place for inspiring pictures.”

Even today, women shape this place. Women proudly make up a majority of Magnolia’s staff, with a strong 55% identifying as female. Not only are women on staff, they also serve in leadership positions from managers to directors to CEO. Women greet guests and give tours, which shapes the visitors' experience of this amazing place. Women work in the gardens—both staff and our amazing volunteers—and they maintain the grounds, ensuring everyone who sets foot here has the best experience possible. Women shaped this place, and they continue to shape it today. We encourage everyone to come out to pay Magnolia a visit, learn more about the history, and enjoy the beauty of this amazing place! 

Read more about the Women Who Made Magnolia and Black History at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens!

“Garden Staff,” captured in the early 20th century