Sometime in the year 1520 a Spanish explorer, Vasquez de Allyon found a cluster of islands off the coast of South Carolina. The very fertile ground, aesthetics, temperature, humidity, and diseases of those islands resembled that of Western Africa. De Allyon associated these similarities with Sierra Leone, home of the Mende Tribe. He instantly named those islands Santa Elena.

Because of the similarities on these islands with Sierra Leone, West Africa, principally the, marshes, climate and texture of the soil it was possible to grow rice, Indigo, cotton, and spices which brought a high price on the European market. The inhabitants of Sierra Leone, particularly members of the Mende tribe, and inhabitants of the surrounding nations were experienced in growing these crops and were able therefore to survive the climate, and diseases that were wide spread. They were brought here in 1526 against their will and retained on these islands for the sole purpose of growing these crops.

Near the end of the Civil War in November 1862, some 12,000 Union troops landed on Hilton Head Island, across the Port Royal sound from Lands End on St. Helena. The Union forces proceeded toward Beaufort, seizing control of the nearby Islands including St. Helena where more than 10,000 slaves were kept. As the plantation owners fled the area, the slaves were unofficially free. As previously mentioned, slavery began on Santa. Elena in 1526, it should be noted that when the Union troops landed on Hilton Head Island in 1861, that signaled the end of 335 years of slavery.

Historians characterize slavery as being introduced in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. Jamestown was an English penal Colony, one of the Colonies that was to become the United States of the Americas. Since South Carolina was a part of the thirteen original English Colonies, it should be underscored that slavery in what is now recognized as the United States of America was introduced on Santa Helena island in 1526. Technical slavery ended on St. Helena Island, and in the United States of America, when the Union troops were poised on Port Royal Island in 1862. With the positioning of Union troops on Port Royal Island, the slave holders fled the area. Therefore, it would be accurate to describe St. Helena as the birthplace of slavery in the United States, and where it was abolished 336 years later in 1862. Slavery officially ended when the Emancipation Proclamation was read on January 1, 1863.

It should also be stressed that racism was not a component of slavery, slavery was a method of obtaining free labor to develop the new world. It wasn't until the late 1800 early 1900 at the end of the reconstruction period that racism entered the picture and was used as a means of suppressing the ex-slaves and denying them the equal rights that was guaranteed to all free people.

Since each tribe spoke their own dialect, it was difficult for those that were retained here to communicate, therefore a unique language was developed. The descendants of those slaves that were brought here in 1526 are still living on St. Helena Island, and have retained their unique Culture, and language, we allude to them today as the "GULLAH" people. St. Helena Island is the only authentic African American community in the United States. Because of its isolation from main stream America, the residents of this island have been able too retained their unique culture.

The newly Freedmen were eager to become self-sufficient, but lacked the two main ingredients of a free person, education and land. The abolitionists of Pennsylvania, along with a group of Churches created the Freedmen Association. Ms. Laura M. Towne was sent to St. Helena Island in April, 1862 by the Freedmen's Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to educate the Freedmen of St. Helena Island. A short tiime later Ms. Elen Murray joined Ms. Towne and together a school was started and named Penn Normal School, in honor of the State of Pennsylvania. It began as an agriculture school, later Industrial courses were added and the name was changed to Penn Normal Industrial and Agriculture School. In June 1862, Ellen Murray was sent to join Laura M. Towne. Ms. Charolette Forten (read the Port Royal Experiment), a Black teacher from Salem, Massachusetts, volunteered to come help teach the Freedmen, she left after one year when her health failed. Madame's Towne and Murray served the people of these Islands for 40 years.

The first classes were held in a single room on Oaks Plantation. Because of the eagerness of the Freedman to become self-sufficient the enrollment grew rapidly. It wasn't long afterwards the single room became overcrowded and in September 1863, classes had to be moved to the Brick Baptist Church. Brick Baptist Church was built by slaves in 1855. The enrollment continued to grow and soon outgrew Brick Baptist Church. A prefabricated building was sent from Pennsylvania, by the Freeman's Association in 1864, and assembled on the current site of Penn Center a 50-acre tract of land that was purchased from a Freedman Hasting Gantt. Mr. Gnatt later served in the House of Representatives.

Laura M. Towne and Ellen Murray was succeeded by Miss Rosa B. Cooley and Francis Butler in 1904. Miss Butler served the Island people one month, having come October 1, 1904 and passed to the great beyond November 1, 1904. Grace B. House came in 1905 and saw the need for industrial education. The trades taught was carpentry, black smithing, wheel wrighting, harness making, cobbling , mechanics. Midwives were also trained at Penn. Agriculture was taught to the students and community people. An agriculture instructor was employed in 1909. Teacher training courses were also offered. After graduation, these students taught in the county schools on the Island.

In 1944 Howard and Alice Kester came to head the school. Theirs was a short stay of four years. The year 1948 brought a change. The Beaufort County and State of South Carolina assumed the responsibility of educating the indigeous people of St. Helena and surrounding Islands. Penn School Trustee Board allowed the classes to remain on campus until the public school was built. In 1951 Penn became known as Penn Community Services Incorporated. Courtney Siceloff became Director. The last graduating class on Penn Campus was in 1953. Since that time Penn has initiated several community development programs and facilities on Penn's campus, and housed many conference groups. The Penn Nursery School and the Rossa B. CooLey Health Clinic were started.

Penn Center was the only facility in South Carolina where bi-racial groups could meet during the 50's and early 60's without being harassed. Penn Center also became a major retreat for civil rights groups. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his staff met here often to formulate strategies for social change in the South and the rest of the Nation. The Historic March on Washington, D.C., in 1963 was partially planned on Penn Center campus.

Of three Historical Landmarks on the National Register in the State of South Carolina, Penn Center is the only Black Historical land mark in the State on the register. In spite of the Historical prominence of the Institution it has continued without the recognition it rightfully deserves. We hope to raise your awareness of the vital role this Institution has played in the development of Black History in this Country by sponsoring a Heritage celebration the second weekend of November each year. There are symposiums by several authors that have written books about this community. Artist display their arts and crafts, Dignitaries from across the country and around the world attend this Historical event.

The following Material was complied and submitted by
Ms. Tracy Stormer, Public Program Coordinator for Penn Center

Nestled beneath the live oaks and Spanish moss on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, Penn Center is one of the most significant African-American institutions in the United States. From its inception, this site has been the location from which a better future for former slaves and their descendants has been strategically prepared. One of the earliest sites in the United States where large numbers of African-Americans were freed from slavery and given autonomy, St. Helena Island and Penn Center are a testimony to the African American persistence in the pursuit of liberty.

A 50 acre National Historic Landmark District, the mission of Penn Center is to preserve the Sea Islands' history, culture and environment through serving as a local, national, and international resource center and by acting as a catalyst for the development of programs for self-sufficiency.

The history of Penn Center is vitally important to all Americans and we must collectively assure that this history continues to be available. The legacy of triumph and survival that characterizes Penn Center is also your history.