Parris Island's rich history started long before the Lords Proprietors deeded the property to Alexander Parris in 1710.  Shell middens reflect human presence over 4000 years ago.  Europeans attempted colonization from 1562.  At its southern tip, the colony of Santa Elena was the capital of Spanish Florida 1566-1576.  During our Civil War, Parris Island plantations produced both white Confederate leaders and black Union soldiers.  In this presentation, retired Marine Stephen Price will focus upon the 110 year-old story of  Parris Island's most current residents; the Parris Island United States Marine Corps.

Join us to learn how Beaufort became the home of the USMC! 

In collaboration with the Beaufort District Collection, as part of our “Historically Speaking” series.

Stephen Price joined the Marine Corps from Oklahoma in 1982. He served in the infantry for four years and was a weapons instructor from 1986 to 1990 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. While stationed at Parris Island he started working and volunteering at museums in Savannah Georgia. He began volunteering at the Parris Island Museum in 2004 and in 2012 he was hired as a museum technician. Mr. Price has been a student of history for many years. His focus of study is the U.S. Marine Corps and its legacy of valor. Since volunteering and working at the Parris Island Museum he has given numerous talks on and off the Depot for military and civilian organizations. In addition to his duties at the museum he currently serves as an instructor at Drill Instructors school on Parris Island.

Join us for a look into a not-too-distant Beaufort mirror.  In combination with a book release, BCHS is collaborating with the Pat Conroy Literary Center to host an interview with Beaufort native and current Fripp Island resident Nancy Thode, discussing the life and times of her mother, author Ann Head. Ann’s Beaufort lineage traces to Neils Christensen, designer and superintendent of the Beaufort National Cemetery, and Abbie Holmes Christensen, Port Royal Experiment teacher. Ann (Anne Christensen) grew up in small town Beaufort during the 20’s and 30s, then returned to write as Ann Head from the 1940’s until her death in 1968. From Beaufort, she authored 4 novels, fifty novelettes and short stories, and taught creative writing at Beaufort High School. Pat Conroy thanked Ann Head for inspiring him onto the path of literary acclaim. Conroy never forgot her impact, later writing “every time I sell a book, I put a rose on her grave.”

Those of us with an affinity for Beaufort County history will recognize many of the names and places of Ann’s time found in the biography.

“Nancy Thode has written an poignant and important biography of her mother, Ann Head in Ahead of Her Time. It is not only a portrait of a creative and beleaguered woman, but also a description of mid-twentieth century Beaufort. “ Larry S. Rowland, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, USC Beaufort.