The Finale

While this semester is drawing to a close I will now have a greater appreciation for grave sites and death in general. For our final assignment we were asked to create a short video filled with all of our class memories. It was harder than I thought to just pick a few of my hundreds of photos from this class.

We used Kizoa to create the movie, and I have never used this program before. I found it really fun and a great way to display what I saw this past semester.

DEATH - Kizoa Movie - Video - Slideshow Maker

Researching Ravenel

Hundreds of grave sites are present throughout the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. Not surprisingly, many of the thousands of buried bodies are historical figures who can easily be researched on to find information about their lives. That is exactly what our FYE class was assigned to do in this "Old Charlestonian" project. Dr. St. Julien Ravenel was who I chose to do my research on.

Ravenel was born December 15, 1819  in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the oldest child of merchant and ship owner John Ravenel and his wife Anna Eliza Ford.  He lived in the city and finished grammar school there, before leaving for Morristown, New Jersey to continue his education. In 1840 he graduated from the Medical College in Charleston after studying medicine under J. E. Holbrook. Ravenel continued his studies for a summer in Philadelphia and a year at Paris, France. He was a well educated man and when he returned to Charleston he began to practice medicine and was named Demonstrator of Anatomy at the Medical College.

Medical College in Charleston, SC 1840

He then changed his mind about medicine and was an associate to Professor Louis Agassiz, studying microscopy, natural history, and physiology. This lead to him studying chemistry in 1852 at his  Stony Landing Plantation along the Cooper River. He experimented with the production of lime from marl deposits located along the river banks. After cement was discovered under the limestone layers, in 1856 he partnered with Clement H. Stevens to establish the Colleton Lime Works at his plantation this company would provide most of the lime used by the southern states during the American Civil War.

War breaks out

Dr. St. Julien Ravenel grave
 Magnolia Cemetary

In 1861 the Civil War broke out where yet again Ravenel used his medical and chemistry background to help him with his various careers. He volunteered with the Phoenix rifles and served as a private during the siege of Fort Sumter. Then he was commissioned as a surgeon with the 24th South Carolina infantry, under the command of Colonel Clement H. Stevens, who was his business partner. The following year, he was placed in charge of the Confederate Hospital and laboratory in Columbia, South Carolina that was used to manufacture nearly all of the South's medical supplies, including drugs and medicines. The Confederate Hospital held Confederate soldiers from Virginia and elsewhere were being treated.

Then in 1863, the first purpose-built torpedo boat was conceived and built near Charleston, South Carolina using private funding. Using an earlier concept of Ross Winans, Dr. Ravenel provided the initial design for the vessel and the construction was completed with the aid of David C. Ebaugh. Named the "David" a type of torpedo that was thirty feet long with a diameter of five and a half feet at its middle and was ballasted so as to float deeply in the water. This torpedo was used on October 5, 1863. The CSS David was used to attack the USS New Ironsides near Charleston Harbor.

Post War

After the war he returned home to Charleston where he continued to experiment with chemistry for improvement of agricultural conditions. He discovered the benefit of using phosphate of lime in agriculture. He was able to increase the cotton yield in one section of his plantation from 100–150 pounds per acre up to 300–400 pounds. In August, 1867, Ravenal and N. A. Pratt discovered a rich concentration of this mineral at Lambs, South Carolina.As a result, he helped to found the fertilizer manufacturer Wando Phosphate Company. Ravenel served as chemist to the larger phosphate companies. Among his accomplishments were the development of simpler fertilizer manufacturing techniques, a method of growing abundant short grain and hay on the sandy South Carolina coast.

5 East Battery, Ravenel's home

Personal Life

Right before war broke out he married writer and historian Harriott Horry Rutledge (1832–1912), the sole child of Edward Cotesworth Rutledge and Rebecca Motte Lowndes on March 20, 1851. Between 1852 and 1872, St. Julien and Harriott would have nine children and live in the inherited house from his parents at 5 East Battery in Charleston until his death. St. Julien Ravenel died of cirrhosis of the liver, March 15, 1882, at the age of 62 and was survived by his wife, four sons, and five daughters, he is buried in Magnolia Cemetary.

Dr. Dickinson desensitizes Death

The College of Charleston sociology professor, George E. Dickinson, joined our "Beyond the Grave" FYE lecture last Monday to give us his explanation of the way the United has handled death from the past to present times. He spoke about how people's perception of death has evolved over time, and how it's just a natural process in life that leave many scratching their heads wondering what happens next.

The first eras of death that people can identify is in the 1600s, known as "Living with Death". This is because child fatality was common and due to poor sanitation and illness that plagued towns and cities. This caused people to be very accepting of death. The next phase, people chose not to think about death. Cemeteries such as Magnolia cemetery were built out of sight and out of people's minds. Vast cemeteries were built on the skirts of cities, but soon people began glorifying death and creating monolithic tombs with intrinsic detail work. 

As time went on people became interested in the human life cycle, and wanted to know how to keep a person alive. Curiosity killed the cat and biomedical breakthroughs such as the first heart plant, helped humans live longer than previous generation. Now the two leading causes of death are cancer and heart disease which are classified as chronic diseases, versus the two main leading causes of death back then were pneumonia and tuberculosis. "Pneumonia was known as "the old folks' friend," according to Professor Dickinson.

While death became a common topic yet again, people were uncomfortable due to the unknown aspect of death. Professor Dickinson says, "Euphemisms are used to make death softer." Some examples of these euphemisms are "passed away," "did not make it," or humorous ones such as "kicked the bucket". People use humor as a coping mechanism to help deflect people's true emotions in these situations. Professor Dickinson mentioned Kubler Ross' book, "On Death and Dying". In her book she mentions the five coping stages, which most people go through when dealing with a loved one's death.

• Denial – The first reaction is denial. In this stage individuals believe the diagnosis is somehow mistaken, and cling to a false, preferable reality.
• Anger – When the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue, they become frustrated, especially at proximate individuals. Certain psychological responses of a person undergoing this phase would be: "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"; "Why would this happen?".
• Bargaining – The third stage involves the hope that the individual can avoid a cause of grief. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. People facing less serious trauma can bargain or seek compromise.
• Depression – "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon, so what's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?" During the fourth stage, the individual despairs at the recognition of their mortality. In this state, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time mournful and sullen.
• Acceptance – "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it; I may as well prepare for it." In this last stage, individuals embrace mortality or inevitable future, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event. People dying may precede the survivors in this state, which typically comes with a calm, retrospective view for the individual, and a stable condition of emotions.

Dickinson also presented her concept of the Glaser and Strauss awareness of dying. This included:

• Closed Awareness- no one knows
• Suspicion Awareness- when one thinks they know but are not sure
• Mutual Pretense- only the doctor knows
• Open Awareness- when you know

While discussing the stages of coping Professor Dickinson spoke about the different types of euthanasia 

• active euthanasia – where a person deliberately intervenes to end someone’s life – for example, by injecting them with a large dose of sedatives, 
• passive euthanasia – where a person causes death by withholding or withdrawing treatment that is necessary to maintain life, such as withholding antibiotics from someone with pneumonia. 

Euthanasia can also be classified as:

• voluntary euthanasia – where a person makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help to do this
• non-voluntary euthanasia – where a person is unable to give their consent (for example, because they are in a coma or are severely brain damaged) and another person takes the decision on their behalf, often because the ill person previously expressed a wish for their life to be ended in such circumstances
• involuntary euthanasia – where a person is killed against their expressed wishes

Professor Dickinson tied his presentation up with the various burial styles. From being cremated, having a special burial (earth or regular), to donating their bodies to science people have and will always have to deal with death one way or another. 

Professor Dickinson was a very intelligent well spoken man who is genuinely passionate about death and it's role in everyone's lives. I learned quite a bit and I look forward to learning more about this topic. To read more about Dickinson's ideals on death, one can read his book called "Understanding Dying, Death, and Bereavement".

My Top Ten

Remember when life used to be simple and watching cartoons and playing outside was all we did? Well I did my Prezi on my top favorite shows from Cartoon Network. It was a nostalgic moment looking through all the various shows I used to watch. This was not the first time I made a Prezi, but it's a twist on a power point presentation. This project is very different from what we normally do, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Our Magnificent Magnolia Visit

On a warm Saturday half of my class took a field trip to Magnolia Cemetery. I was not sure what to expect, my Professor spoke highly of this visit and I was excited about the going.

 by the walking bridge
 landscapes of Magnolia.

It first opened in 1850, and is located near the Cooper River, the 150 acre plot is home to wildlife, beautiful landscapes and a wide variety of markers and monuments. I was shocked not only by the size, but at the exemplary upkeep for such a large landscape. The cemetery is a great example of both a rural and Victorian cemetery. Over 35,000 people are buried here and all the grave markers have unique qualities that define them. There were so many ornate details, enormous grave sites, and the overall appearance of the markers and monuments were in decent condition. The trip was well worth it, and I learned a lot about the grave markers and also the people who were buried there.

View from the bridge where we
spotted a bird perched. 

The layout of the cemetery is strategically planned and expertly laid out. The views are breathtaking, as well. Each area of the cemetery is different. The paths are wonderful for walking, and the overall atmosphere of the cemetery is clean, kept up, and pristine. Though there were some areas that had massive fallen trees due to Hurricane Matthew, but it almost added to the experience. The large water bodies added a tranquil and calming effect that romanticized the fact that we were in a cemetery.

There were so many stunning monuments in Magnolia that I had a hard time just picking my top three favorites.

William Huggins Brawley

The first one that caught my attention belongs to Mr. William Huggins Brawley. Who lived from May 13, 1841- Nov. 15, 1916. Some interesting facts about his life were that he was a "US Congressman. During the Civil War he served as a Private in Company F, 6th South Carolina Infantry, and was severely wounded at the May 30, 1862 Battle of Seven Pines, losing an arm. He was elected as a Democrat to represent South Carolina's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1891 until his resignation in 1894." By using findagrave.com I was able to recover this information. His grave marker was a box with the inverted lit torches on the corners- symbolizing life in the next realm or a life extinguished. A lit torch represents life, immortality and the everlasting life. Conversely, an inverted torch represents death, or the passing of the soul into the next life.

Annie Kerr Aiken

The second grave that caught my eye was Little Annie's. She was born Annie Kerr Aiken, and passed right before her third birthday. Living from Jun. 12, 1853 - May 8, 1856. In the textbook my Professor writes about how she died of diphtheria. She holds a wreath in her hands as well. The use of garlands, wreaths and festoons dates back to ancient Greek times and it was adopted into the Christian religion as a symbol of the victory of the redemption. Her grave marker is a box tomb, with a figure of a sleeping child atop it. 

James B. Boyd

The final grave that I personally found most interesting was James Brown Boyd, who's birth date is unknown but he died on Sep. 17, 1862. He was the 2nd Sergeant of the Palmetto Guards, of South Carolina,and was killed at the battle of Sharpsburg September 17, 1862. His body was removed from near the battle field and brought here to Magnolia. The reason I found this grave so captivating was because of the palmetto plant on top of the pedestal and the detail in the grave marker itself.

Our class outside the gates of Magnolia Cemetery

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Magnolia Cemetery and I am glad I had the opportunity to go explore the gorgeous grounds. Here is a picture outside the grates before we began our exploration.  

Exploring the Evanescent Souls

It was a normal class outing to a cemetery in Downtown Charleston. We had just been given the guideline to our 'Old Charlestonian' blog post. With the prompt fresh in my mind, I walked around the Bethel United Methodist Church cemetery looking for all the possible grave markers that stuck out to me.

Bethel United Methodist Church is located at 57 Pitt Street in Downtown Charleston, and is distinguished as a National Historic Landmark. The church itself was purchased by the Methodists in 1795 as a burial ground. However, they soon decided to construct a wooden church there called Bethel, and the original building was constructed in 1797-1798. In 1852 construction of the current Bethel Church began, and the existing wooden building was relocated to the rear of the lot., but according to the church's website it's roots started farther back with visits from John Wesley. Bethel United Methodist Church's website said John Wesley was the father of Methodism.

While wandering through the graves there were numerous grave markers that caught my attention. After taking notes about the symbols and the type of grave makers I went home and did some of my own research with our textbook, looking into the meaning of the symbols that glorified death and the deceased.

C.D Bateman, Die in Socket
 closer detail

C.D Bateman
Die in Socket

The first grave that caught my eye was this archaic die in socket. The headstone belongs to C.D Bateman who lived from Aug. 29, 1828 -Sept. 22, 1889 . Using Find a findagrave.com I found out the deceased was named Charles Darby Bateman and was born in Ireland. The symbols were flowers which represented the frality of life and I took an educated guess that the main flower in the center of the bouquet was a daffodil or a lily. Since I wasn't sure I found out the daffodil, also part of the lily family, which indicated grace, beauty and a deep regard.

William H. Fleming, D.D.

Cradle 

The second grave I took notes on was Reverend William H. Fleming, D.D. Who lived from Jan. 1,1821 - Apr. 6, 1877. He was born in Charleston, SC and died there too. The inscription on his grave read: Our beloved paster/William H. Fleming, D.D./born/January 1st 1821,/died April 16th 1877/an earnest preacher,/a wise counselor,/a cheerful and pious man/a native of this city/an active member of/the South Carolina Conference/for thirty six years/he began and closed his ministry/at Bethel/called and chosen,/and faithful.
His grave marker was a cradle grave.The top of his grave was fitting for a minister which had symbols that were designed for a congregation to hear a sermon from the pulpit. As well as the wreath at the foot of the cradle which represents victory and redemption. It is normally assoicated with someone who has attained distinction in the arts, literature, athleticsm or the military.

Rosa Mary
die in socket

The third grave was Rosa Mary (on the right) who lived from Oct. 9, 1835 - Nov. 2,1881. She has a die in socket grave marker that is draped with a cloth which represents sorrow or mourning. Then the extending bouquet of mixed flowers represents which indicated grace, beauty and a deep regard.

Lizzie Moore
headstone

The fourth grave on the left belongs to Lizzie Moore. Who lived from Jun. 6, 1870 -Mar. 10, 1871. This small marker was a headstone that had fallen over. At this time in history it wasn't uncommon to bury your children. She was only 6 months and 4 days when she passed.The symbol on her grave marker was simple branch with some kind of flower inside a circle. Since she was a child I made the assumption that the flower could be a daisy. Since that flower represents the innocence of a child, Jesus the Infant.
The fifth grave I noticed was Charles C Seyle. Who lived from

Charles C Seyle

Headstone

Jul. 12, 1823 - Feb. 10, 1880. His grave was a fallen headstone. It was interesting to me because I had yet to see a cross wrapped in ivy. The cross was a sign of christanity and ivy represents memory, immortality, or eternal life. There was also an incription beneath the cross that read, " Rock of ages cleft for me". I am not sure what that means though so I did a bit of digging and found out that is was a popular Christian hymn by the Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady written in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.  

Elizabeth O. Benoist
Ledger 

The sixth grave was Elizabeth O. Benoist. It was a ledger grave marker. She lived from Jul. 28, 1787 -Nov. 1, 1804. This grave didn't have any significant symbols but the inscription font was something that drew me tho this grace. The old calligraphic scripture was interesting to me.Especially since the heading read " Sacred" I had to do some research on this grave on findagrave.com and got lucky because I found out that there was a WPA project headstone transcriber, Elizabeth C. Curtis, noting that she was in doubt about year of birth. This was because of the natural weathering.

Julia Prior

Headstone

I found another child grave that belonged to Julia Prior. It was yet another fallen headstone with the inscription of her age. 10 years / 1 month / and 20 days. She lived from Aug. 22, 1844 -Oct. 12, 1854. The symbols were similar to Lizzie Moore with the circle with rosebuds that face downwards. Roses had uniques reprsentations for women and young girls in the Vicorian Age. The maturation of the rose indicated how old the person was when they passed, normally a child under the age of twelve since it was a closed rosebud. 

While this graveyard was smaller than some of the other ones I've visited the history was rich and I had a lot of fun looking for information about the deceased and the symbolic nature of their gravemarkers. 

 Francis W. Capers

Lawnmarker

The eighth marker I found was Francis Withers Capers. His grave marker was different from the other ones, because it was a lawn marker and had its own plot compared to the other graves in the area. He has quite a distinguished life, serving as a College President at the College of Charleston, Civil War Confederate Militia General, and professor. Born Aug. 8, 1819 in Savannah, Georgia -Jan. 11, 1892 where he is resting in Charleston,South Carolina. He has a Latin cross enscribed in a circle which is one of the oldest symbol of Christianity and is know as God's Mark.

Joseph W. Ainger
Headstone

One of the last graves I noticed was propped up against the wall of the Bethel United Methodist Church. It belongs to Joseph Wallace Ainger. Who lived from Jan. 24, 1839 - Mar. 28, 1888. The Inscription read, " In memory/of/"Our Brother"/Joseph W. Ainger. The symbol drew me in because it was a cross through a crown. That reprsented immorality, righteousness,victory, and was symbolic of honor or glory of life after death. 

Elizabeth Moore
Headstone

Elizabeth Moore
Headstone, closer detail

The final grave I found was yet again a fallen headstone. The weathered inscription made it difficult to firgure out the details about the deceased. Searching online I found that Elizabeth M.'s full name was Elizabeth Martha Simons Vinro Moore. There was no information on the deceased birth aside from the year 1796 and her death on Oct. 26, 1861. The inscription read inscription " Consort of Rev George W. Moore Aged 65 years / exclaiming all is well, / in the various relation of life., / She was affectionate, / kind and indulgent". I found out that she had 10 children, and some of them were burried in the Bethel United Methodist Churchyard. The symbols of the angel with wings represents rebirth, and urn with a wreath/garland represents the death of an elderly person. 

This experience of resurfacing history in the Bethel United Methodist Church has been a wonderful experience of getting to know some of Charleston's rich past.

The life of a 2nd Lieutenant

The planes whizzed by his head as he boarded the fighter planes in Italy. The scenery was vastly different from what is currently in Italy. My Great- Grandfather  fought for England in WWII right from the beginning. He was a successful ended up becoming the 2nd lieutenant in the Indian army.  He was a regal man who lived a simple life after the war, he had 3 children and took on the roll as a responsible husband and husband.

ground troops in Italy during WWII

My great-grandfather, Gian Chand Dubey  was born on March 23,1909 in India. He was born in Jammu, India and had 11 brothers and 2 sisters. He went to boarding school in Dehradun which is located in the hills. Trains were the mode of transportation that wound up the mountain. Motion sickness was common but once you arrived, you were expected to stay there until your winter break. After high school he attended university in England. He went to Europe in the late 1920s, and WWII began in 1939. In the next 10 years he finished university and returned to India once again. He worked for the Indian Army gaining the position of being a 2nd lieutenant. Gian also got married to Romila and they settled down in Mumbai, India. But once the war started he was drafted to fight for England in Italy. Before he left for war he found out his wife had become pregnant with their 2nd child. While he was away he received a telegraph that told him that he had a son.

My grandparents on the left at their wedding.
 My Great-Grandparents on the right

Gian Dubey was one of the first men in India to have a sibling in every ranking in the Indian army. With his 11 other brothers they filled every position the army had to offer. After the war he returned home and continued working in the army but in their offices in Mumbai. He lived a simple life until the day he died on January 23, 2002. He passed away at  93, of old age and a broken heart. His wife Romila had died just 3 months prior, and like a swan he was incomplete without her.  Since he was Hindu he does not have a grave site. In that religion the body is immediately embalmed and then cremated. Gian was cremated and his ashes are then taken to where he wanted them to be placed. His ashes were scattered in the bay outside of his home, and with his wife in the Swiss Alps. While there are no grave markers in the Hindu religion, symbols and the process of scattering the ashes are similar to that of gravestones. My Great-Grandfather had a simple but interesting life. He was a successful army lieutenant, husband, and Great-Grandfather.

Family picture of Dubey's 

Gravestones in the Gale

The storm was a brewing, but the graves were waiting for us. We gathered our belongings and walked to the first of two sites for the evening. The first site was the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul, on 126 Coming St. It was a vast grave with various grave markers that could be seen from the street. On one side of the Cathedral there was a high brick wall preventing onlookers to get a sneak peak at the mysterious plot behind the wall.  

Die on base
Ivy- undying affection,memory,fidelity

Walking in we dropped our bags on the steps of the Cathedral and began exploring. There were numerous grave markers, such as die on base, pedestal tomb, obelisk, and many others. I found symbols on some of the headstones as well. While many have been weathered and stand against time some of the graves had visible inscriptions. The symbols have interpretations, and for almost every piece that is added to a headstone it has some kind of significant meaning. Some of the more common  grave markers I saw are pictured below. 

Pedestal Tomb - urn
1860-1880 time frame

Bedstead/ casket
generally for children

obelisk
husband & wife

Box Tomb
Lily of the valley - purtity

 There were many grave markers that had joint names, signifying married couples or family plots.  While this cemetery is archaic and some of the graves are not in the best condition the overall appearance of this site was not morbid.  

Mausoleum
Torch- inverted, means death
 but not extinguished  

This mausoleum in the back is massive.  To the eye, it appears new, as the marble is smooth.  I don't know what family or group of people this mausoleum is for, but it is stunning.  Two upside-down torches near the edges of the mausoleum represent the end of life.  The enscription on the mausoleum "QVI CHRISTO VIVIT PERIRE NESCIT," which roughly translates to "He who knows Christ never perishes." 

Then below there is the grave of Sophia Eleanor, who died at 26 on January 2, 1879, remains in great condition to this day.  This standard headstone comes not without a meaningful symbol.  At the top center of is the Crown and Cross, symbolizing Christianity and victory over death.  What seems like a simple grave actually has a power symbol along with it.  A touching epitaph at the bottom reads "Sweet Rest in Heaven."

Headstone
Crown symbol

A Historian Makes History

Today we had a historian come to class. Her name is Ruth M. Miller, she is a local Charleston historian who is a graduate of Duke University. She told us all about her exciting life, of living all over America and traveling much of the world. She enjoys tying local history into the American story and worldwide events. Her specialty is local religious history, including extensive knowledge of the history and origins of local congregations, their churches, synagogues and 18th century graveyards 

Miller (left) and Harwood (right)
show off eachother's books

Ruth enjoys digging into the past and sharing her discoveries. She has written 7 books about various topics. Miller says that,“We have the best collection of eighteenth century cemeteries in America”. She believes that Charleston is filled with history that is waiting to resurface. Her visit was truly inspiring and made me believe that history is all around us in this gorgeous historic district.

Miller was very informative and she spoke about how you don't need a degree to be interested in the art of excavating. She gave helpful tips on how to photograph various headstones as well. The information she shared will help immensely, and the amount of knowledge she can recall is impressive. 
Having Ms.Miller in class made the study of genealogy and gravestone iconography interesting and engaging. She had countless stories about specific moments in time and how certain ways of doing things evolved. Miller taught me about the iconography and symbols on gravestones, obelisk,crypts, and other body storage sites. 
After class I was able to view her website, and find specific facts about the numerous books she helped write. 

All about me!

Hey I'm Alina Macedo, I am a freshman at the College of Charleston. I am from a small town  outside Philadelphia, known as the "main line". I graduated this year from Conestoga High School with an interest in communications and fine arts.