The St. Augustine Historical Society debuts its new history book this month, Oldest City: The History of St. Augustine.

Edited by Susan Richbourg Parker, Ph. D., the book tells the story of the city’s history beginning with the native tribes who were here before the arrival of the city’s founder, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565, through the city’s first 450 years.

Parker, an award-winning historian and author, was the Society’s executive director for nine years and was previously the Society’s president twice. "Surely the history of St. Augustine must be one of the most fascinating in our nation,” she says. Why a new history book? Parker reminds us, "although the events of the past do not change, the questions we ask do."

The chapter authors and co-authors are well-known in the city for their work in historic research and writing, archaeology, and historic preservation.

They are: Kathleen Deagan, Carl Halbirt, Eugene Lyon, Amy Turner Bushnell, Daniel L. Schafer, James G. Cusick, Patricia C. Griffin, T.W. Upchurch, Thomas Graham, Paul L. Weaver III, Susan Parker.

The Society’s program to introduce the book and its authors will be held in the Gamache-Koger Theatre in the Ringhaver Student Center of Flagler College on July 31 at 7 p.m. A book-signing with the authors will follow. Seating will be first come, first serve.

The Society’s first history book, The Oldest City St. Augustine Saga of Survival,” was published in l983, edited by Jean Parker Waterbury, a research associate for the Historical Society. She also wrote books for the Society on several St. Augustine historic buildings. St. Augustine Historical Society executive director Magen Wilson noted the importance of the Oldest City, “The Oldest City: St. Augustine Saga of Survival” has been our bestseller and everyone’s favorite book on St. Augustine now for over 35 years. I have no doubt Oldest City: the History of Saint Augustine will continue to carry the St. Augustine Historical Society’s legacy and serve as the go-to book on St. Augustine history for decades to come.”

Visit our website at www.santaugustinehistrocialsociety.org before July 31st to pre-purchase your copy of Oldest City and receive a $5 discount. Books will also be available for purchase at the July 31^st event as well as in the Oldest House Museum Store and on the St. Augustine Historical Society website.