Daniel Hammer began his tenure as the next president and chief executive officer of The Historic New Orleans Collection on Monday, July 1, 2019.

Hammer, who holds a master’s in preservation studies from Tulane University’s School of Architecture, is the organization’s seventh director and the first to be raised and educated in New Orleans.

He originally joined THNOC’s staff in 2005 as a receptionist. In his 14 years with the organization, he has served as a member of the reference staff in the Williams Research Center (including serving as the head of reader services from 2011-2014), where he worked closely with the institution’s holdings relating to the history of Louisiana’s German community.

Beginning in 2014 Hammer served as the deputy director/vice president, focusing his efforts on the THNOC’s mission of preserving the French Quarter as the vibrant, useful, and sustainable heart of the city.

“Preserving the history and culture of this area—including the architecture and material culture of its oldest neighborhood—directly enriches the lives of both our residents and visitors,” Hammer said.  “The Collection and its staff are engaged in work that is meaningful for all audiences. Our ambition is to reach the world with our message and meaning about New Orleans that resonates locally and resonates to everyone who visits the city.”

Hammer succeeds Priscilla Lawrence who retired June 30.