What is Your Heritage and the State of its Preservation?

During the Spring 2020 semester several students at the College of Charleston's Historic Preservation and Community Planning program participated in their Senior Seminar titled What Is Your Heritage and the State of Its Preservation? This was the fourth time this seminar topic had been taught with previous sessions in 2014 2016 and 2018. For this class each student had to conduct a lengthy in-depth research paper on the state of preservation of heritage sites material objects or traditions associated with their family's past. The assignment used genealogical research methods in an unconventional way by elevating the assessment of ancestors beyond typical names dates and generational succession; so commonly found on most family trees. The students had to ask profound questions to guide their inquiry such as Where (as in specific spot) did my ancestors come from?; What was life like for them?; and What cultural traditions were important for them?. In this way people whether through a specific individual or a group became connected and contextualized within time place and society. Moreover the students had to utilize and synthesize the knowledge skills and experiences they acquired in classes from previous semesters. Essays contributed within this volume are by Mackenzie Turner Jesse Q. Harris Jackson Royall Martha Stegall Cara E. Quigley and Rachel Pluznik. Barry L. Stiefel Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Historic Preservation and Community Planning Program at the College of Charleston where he enjoys collaborating on projects with students.2021 51/2x81/2 paper 248 pp