Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Historic Preservation
Committee Chair/Advisor
Bradford Watson
Committee Member
Laurel Fay
Committee Member
Emily Ford
Committee Member
Frances Ford
Abstract
Black burial grounds throughout Charleston have long been understudied, and their funerary architecture even less so. Within the City of Charleston’s Urban Growth Boundary, many undocumented Black cemeteries are threatened by development. Previous scholarship is scant, as these sites have gone without dedicated research for many years. As awareness of their historical significance grows, attempts are being made to document and understand Black burial grounds, both within the context of Charleston, but more so within the context of the descendant communities these burial grounds serve. To this end, this research asked the question, “What material and formal shifts can be identified in funerary architecture in Black cemeteries within the City of Charleston, South Carolina’s Urban Growth Boundary from 1867-1975? How do these changes reflect broader changes in architectural expression in identity for these Black communities?” To answer this question, the research used field studies to document and catalogue a range of grave markers from this time period. The data was analyzed using pattern matching to find how funerary architecture, its materials, and motifs changed over the course of a century. The expected hypothesis was that significant change would be found throughout the cemeteries and graveyards, dependent on their setting and the range of death dates found within. This research will hopefully aid in better understanding Black burial grounds and help the stewards of these spaces to protect and preserve them for future generations.
Recommended Citation
Garrod, Lorena, "Tribute to the Dead is Honor to the Living: Uncovering the Evolution of Funerary Monuments in Black Cemeteries Throughout Charleston, SC" (2026). All Theses. 4685.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4685