Date of Award
8-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Historic Preservation (MHP)
Department
Historic Preservation
Committee Chair/Advisor
Laurel Bartlett
Committee Member
Brittany LaVelle Tulla
Committee Member
Lissa D'Aquisto Felzer
Abstract
The freedman’s cottage is a distinct vernacular building type in Charleston, South Carolina. Though it is recognized for its historical significance, the freedman’s cottage remains one of the most understudied building typologies in Charleston. This thesis presents a comprehensive study of the freedman’s cottage, possible origins, chronology, material composition, geographic distribution, and architectural expressions. Identified by its architectural form – a one-story, pen-style, dwelling spanning one room wide and two rooms deep; adorned with a Charleston piazza – this vernacular architecture has decorated the Charleston landscape since. The freedman’s cottage has undergone numerous changes throughout its history, though final iterations of the building share common characteristics across Charleston. In doing so, the freedman’s cottage developed and evolved over time in three distinct periods reflective of the changing living conditions. Rather than growing as a monolith, the freedman’s cottage building typology developed in more isolated and grouped instances, following the implementation of modern amenities. The freedman’s cottage continues to undergo changes as new construction materials and techniques are adopted in response to new problems.
Recommended Citation
Jule, Hamzah C., "Charleston's Cottages: A Comprehensive Study of Freedman's Cottages in Charleston, South Carolina" (2026). All Theses. 4810.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4810