The Public Historian: Call for Papers -- Cemeteries, Graveyards, and Massacre Sites

 3/7: The Public Historian: Call for Papers -- Cemeteries, Graveyards, and Massacre Sites

I. Greenwood Cemetery, City of Orlando – Walking Tour

With taking a look at the Greenwood Cemetery application for state funding (considered to only be applicable for heritage education and historical marker project types only according to the application), it made me think about why this could not be included in federal funding as well. It is very interesting how these types of projects could only be funded by the state– this emphasizes how each and every state could have their own standards, regulations, and goals that they want to achieve that could be different from federal aims– possibly varying from state to state. When selecting a project type, they chose a Heritage Education Project. We now know that this is funded by the Florida Department of State Small Matching Historic Preservation Grant with $50,000. 

 From reading the description of a Heritage Education Project, I believe it is important to point out that the very last sentence states that “exhibits must not be permanently affixed to the building.” This is what I believe makes it more for the ‘public,’ as it requires that there be educational material or brochures, preservation of historical records through digital means, video illustrations, and small educational exhibits with the purpose of increasing public understanding and awareness of the history of Florida. 

In the application alone, those asking for the grant state the historical significance of the project. They present the area and its importance, while showing that this area has been the burial space for residents of Orlando for over one hundred years. This tour allows for education through a publicly accessible and interactive map that links to additional records for use and interest of the public to deeper understand Orlando’s history. This draws our attention to the importance of digitization in documenting and preserving the history and legacy of those that were once with us. It allows for easily accessible material to the public to learn and educate themselves on the specific area and those that once walked on the same path they are. It is the public historian’s role to create easily accessible ways for the public to learn about history.

II. Daughters of Zion Cemetery, City of Charlottesville, VA

Edwina St. Rose, one of those on the official preservation team working to document and preserve graves of those buried in this cemetery, emphasizes that everything that was once here that resembles the history of this site (homes, neighborhoods, etc.) are no longer in existence, and this is a way to remember those that once lived. It is imperative that sites such as these are protected from vandalism, natural deterioration, and the lack of local history documentation. St. Rose recalls that these are common problems seen in the United States regarding slave cemeteries— damaged, built over, etc. 

Additionally, when they are preserved– not many know about them. This idea exemplifies how important it is to create digital resources in which these sites and documents can be preserved and shown to the public. The public is not likely to research this on their own– we need to show them that this is here, this is a problem, and this should be known.  This is the role of public historians– allowing the public to have access to these sites as well as working with governments to receive funding and a certain status to these sites to avoid acts such as vandalism and deterioration.

III. Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, Richmond, VA (1816-1879)

Shockoe Hill is a prime example of how a site can change over time– and be completely disregarded. As historical events passed through, the site remained– yet in several different ways. It has been built over, and there are still arguments over transportation through the area. This site has been expanded, built over, and decreased over the hundreds of years. Still, there are threats to this area– further emphasizing the need for preservation. With the gas station atop Shockoe Hill being seized by the city in 2018 after they had neglected to pay taxes, Lenora McQueen, stepped forward with evidence that traces her family members to Shockoe Hill, which resulted int he halt of the auction. Now with a historical marker, just a few years prior many that drive by each day would not even know that they are driving past, and over, thousands of the buried. 

In conclusion, it is extremely important to make sites like Greenwood, Daughters of Zion, and Shockoe Cemetery historical landmarks and spaces for education– possibly reducing vandalism along the way and protecting the area that could very well have been at-risk before funding. It is also one of the last remaining ways to commemorate the deceased, especially those that are often forgotten or looked past throughout history.