Madeira Club (Savannah, Ga.)

The Madeira Club is a men's social and intellectual club formed in 1950 by Thomas Gignilliat, Dr. Thomas A. McGoldrick, Dr. Peter L. Scardino, Major General Haywood S. Hansell, Jr. and Dr. Antonio J. Waring. The club has no written rules, minutes, officers, or dues. Meetings rotate among the members' homes and consist of a formal dinner and a paper presentation by a member. The host and paper presenter are allowed to each invite a non-member guest. The paper presented normally does not relate to the member's profession. A topic is selected which interests the member and requires research and study. After the paper is read, each member and guest has an opportunity to comment. The name "Madeira Club" was chosen because of Savannah's involvement in the early history of Madeira, and Madeira's role as a favorite in the early wine cellars of Savannah. Madeira wine is regularly served with at least one course at club dinners. For a complete history of the club, see the paper "The First Forty Years of the Savannah Madeira Club" by Verner E. Kelly (Box 7, folder 113).