Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground

Finding, preserving, and sharing the interrelated histories that bind together Woodland Cemetery and the African American burial ground at Clemson University

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

This is the first of a few special programs that we’ll be introducing to the cemetery project each semester.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

We would like to thank those who came to our Clemson Presidents tour (co-led by President Emeritus Jim Barker & former Trustee Dr. Jim Bostic Jr.) at Woodland Cemetery last week.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

https://t.co/ceE74GVVak

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Last week the students presented their digital poster at the Clemson CI Research Showcase! They discussed their research this semester for the memorial and community engagement for the cemetery project.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Join us tomorrow, Thursday April 4, from 1-3pm in the Watt Center for the Clemson CI Research Showcase to hear about the cemetery project and what the students have been researching this semester! This event is free and open to the public.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

The CI Team recently visited the campus archives again to learn about records for Clemson employees and to explore historical maps, including an atlas of campus made in 1945. @ArchivesClemson

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

We would like to thank you all that attended the Carrel Cowan-Ricks Day of Remembrance. The work that we do in the 2020s wouldn’t have a foundation to build from without Clemson students like yourselves back in the 1990s working with the late Black female professor of archeology.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

One week from today! Help us celebrate the archeological work of this Black woman from those who knew her & those who work upon her foundation today for the cemetery project. Hope to see y’all there!

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Please join the Cemetery Preservation Project to commemorate Carrel Cowan-Ricks Day on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Each year we honor Professor Cowan-Ricks as Clemson University’s first Black Archeologist in the 1990s and for accelerating our work for the cemetery project.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Last week, we saw the children of the next generation of Polydore and Menemin’s enslaved family in an 1854 document; here, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren are listed on an 1865 appraisal among 139 enslaved persons at Fort Hill after the death of Andrew P. Calhoun.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Please join the Cemetery Preservation Project to commemorate Carrel Cowan-Ricks Day on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Each year we honor Professor Cowan-Ricks as Clemson University’s first Black Archeologist in the 1990s and for accelerating our work for the cemetery project.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Students visited the archives last week and learned about the 1854 Deed to Fort Hill Plantation that includes a list of 50 men, women, and children who were enslaved there. Listed on the source was Phebe, who was 100 yrs old, and Caty, who was a newborn baby.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

By 1854, on Fort Hill’s deed, Polydore and Menemin, head of an enslaved family have died and are likely buried on Cemetery Hill. Son Tom in June 1850 is documented in St. Paul’s Episcopal church journal. Listed are Tom’s daughter Jargar, husband Moses, and their six children.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Last week, students on the CI Team took a tour of the cemetery for Black History Month. They learned about the interrelated histories of the African American Burial Ground, A. P. Calhoun Family Plot, and Woodland Cemetery at Clemson.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

6) Once you meet the satisfaction criteria, you will become a tour guide. If you want to practice giving the tour in the cemetery, please contact the Community Engagement Assistant ([email protected]).

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

Here are the following steps to become a docent for the team:

1) Attend a one-hour Woodland Cemetery tour guide training.

2) Shadow as a tour guide for at least two one-hour cemetery tour.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

5) Complete an introduction at each of the six stops. You should expect to practice your part for another couple of hours until you fully learn it and are comfortable conveying the information. You will give a tour twice with your mentor and then on your own.

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

https://t.co/ATWbGa9vxa

[Woodland Cemetery & African American Burial Ground @CUCemetery]

The cemetery project is looking for tour guides. There are six stops on the cemetery tour. At each stop, a docent provides an introduction to the site with the expectation of memorizing all stops in the long term. Have what it takes? Let us know here below:

[Clemson Libraries @clemsonlibrary]

Check out the latest episode of Tigers in the Archive podcast. It features Rhondda Thomas, leader of Call My Name project, shedding light on the role of African Americans in the university's history. #ClemsonHistory #TigersInTheArchive #CallMyNameProject