Chicora Foundation, Inc – 1996

African-American cemeteries are a unique resource. They not only represent the last resting place of black Americans, but they are also storehouses of African-American history. The graveyards and the grave decorations offer an unusual glimpse of a part of history which is rapidly disappearing.

The cultural customs of the people using these cemeteries are quickly changing. In addition, the cemeteries themselves are being lost to development. Sometimes the locations of the cemeteries are not known. Other times, the cemeteries look "abandoned" and "uncared" for.

This booklet will help you discover the origins of African-American cemeteries, the beliefs of the people who have used them, and the reasons why they are so important to our understanding of black culture. You can play a vital role in helping to preserve these cemeteries.

© 1996 by Chicora Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transcribed in any form without permissions of Chicora Foundation, Inc. except for brief quotations used in reviews.

This publication was generously supported by a grant from the SC BellSouth Pioneer Volunteers, and we extend our appreciation for their interest in education and preservation. We also wish to acknowledge the use of photographs from the Brookgreen Gardens Archives, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and from the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia.