Fort Lauderdale Names Susan Gillis as Historian for Centennial Celebration

Local Historical Expert and Author Hired to Work with Centennial Celebration Committee to Raise Awareness and Educate Residents

Shannon Vezina, Public Information Specialist
City of Fort Lauderdale Public Information Office
(954) 828-4743 / svezina@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale - The City of Fort Lauderdale, in anticipation of commemorating its 100th birthday in 2011, has retained Susan Gillis as the historical research consultant for the celebration.

Gillis has more than 30 years experience as an expert on local lore, working as a curator, archivist and consultant at various local cultural facilities, including the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Stranahan House and Bonnet House. She has authored four books and co-authored another on Fort Lauderdale’s history.

“I am delighted to be working with the Fort Lauderdale Centennial Celebration Committee,” said Gillis. “I believe that sharing history is key to building a community and I look forward to helping bring our City’s past to life and celebrating all that we have accomplished.”

Gillis will work with the City’s Centennial Celebration Committee to preserve, recreate and promote Fort Lauderdale’s history through research, as well as spearheading several educational initiatives throughout 2011.

Among the many events planned to pay tribute to the past century will be a series of traveling “centennial exhibits,” walking tours, state heritage markers and speaker presentations.

“Ms. Gillis brings a wealth of knowledge and serves as an excellent resource to help tell the story of our City’s beginnings as a trading post, to its present-day status as one of America’s most popular tourist destinations,” said Mayor Seiler. “She is uniquely qualified and will provide a diverse, comprehensive and accurate historic account of the past century.”

The Centennial Celebration Committee has been gathering input from residents, businesses and local organizations to create a citywide celebration that pays tribute to Fort Lauderdale’s past, present and future.

The Committee is comprised of 21 Fort Lauderdale residents with ties to the local business, historical, educational and cultural communities. Committee members will draw on their diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to plan an inclusive commemoration that appeals to residents, businesses and visitors.

For more information, please visit http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/centennial.