Since its founding in 1992 by Make MacMurphy, a major part of Battery Gadsden Cultural Center’s mission has been to advocate on behalf of preserving the Island’s rich history that stretches back some 350 years. A significant part of that history surrounds the unique homes that make up a large part of the historic fabric of our Island. No one exemplifies the efforts to educate and preserve the architectural history of Sullivan’s Island more than the late Roy Williams.
As a former history teacher, Roy literally wrote the book on the Island’s historic homes. Published in 2004, Roy’s monograph Sullivan’s Island, part of the Images of America series published by Arcadia Press, catalogued our historic structures from one end of the Island to the other in pictures and in words. In addition, Roy led many highly successful and entertaining trolley tours of the Island, narrating as no one else could the detailed history of the most important homes. He was also kind enough to take part in creating Architectural Gems of Sullivan’s Island, a video version of his trolley tours produced by Battery Gadsden.
So, it is with deep and abiding respect for Roy Williams’ life and preservation efforts that the Battery Gadsden board of directors has chosen to create the Roy Williams Memorial Lectureship on Historic Preservation. The first presentation will be held on May 14th, at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 3222 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, starting at 6 p.m.
We are thrilled and honored to have as the first speaker in this series, Kristopher King. Mr. King has an extensive background in historic preservation, having earned a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as the executive director of the Preservation Society of Charleston. He is currently a lecturer in Clemson’s Historic Preservation Masters Program here in Charleston, an Adjunct Professor in Historic Preservation at the College of Charleston, and serves on the boards of many preservation and environmentally related non-profit organizations. His topic will be Saving Grace: Historic Homes of Sullivan’s Island. It will focus on the positive steps that can be taken to preserve our Island’s architectural gems. The presentation will be followed by a reception in the Sunrise Presbyterian Fellowship Hall.
As with all Battery Gadsden speaker events, both the lecture and the reception are free and open to the public. Please come out for what promises to be a fascinating and informative evening.
The BGCC board of directors would also like to thank the Roy Williams estate for supporting this special event.
