What is Your Heritage and the State of its Preservation?

During the Spring 2016 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 second time this seminar topic had been taught, with the first in 2014. For this class, each student had to conduct a lengthily in-depth research paper on the state of preservation of heritage sites, material objects, or traditions associated with their family history. 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 other classes from past semesters. Susan Kammeraad-Campbell of Storyboard America also collaborated with the students on investigating and writing family history stories. Essays contributed within this volume are by Meagan Pickens, Kaylee Lass, Christa Kearns, Kyra Rooney, Evan Rubel, and Katherine Schofield, with a faculty guest contribution from Marian Mazzone. 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.