Helping with "So As Not to Forget" Project

On October 24 eight CCASM members along with Esther and Abigail, one of Esther's former UMBC students, worked with the African American Heritage Society of Charles County and the Alexandria United Methodist Church on their "So As Not to Forget" Project.  (Check out video at end of post.)

The project was to document the Alexandria United Methodist Church Cemetery that is off Chicamuxen Road in Charles County.  This church was established by a group of freedmen after the Civil War and continues to be a place of worship for descendants of these first families as well as others.  This African American cemetery contains graves with markers (both with and without names) as well as unmarked graves.  And there are graves from the nineteenth century through present day.  

Members of Alexandria United Methodist Church and other participants

CCASM started mapping the cemetery with Esther Read (who had a broken small toe but still insisted on walking around) being the archaeologist in charge.  Jim Gibb used his equipment to record locations and will provide a map for use by the Church when the work is complete.  Elsie and later Mary held the stadia rod for Jim.  Denise, Joe, Julia, Mary, Linda, Carol, Elsie, along with Abigail divided into groups and gathered information.  One group placed numbered flags at the top and at the bottom of depressions indicating graves as well as in front of any markers.  The other groups recorded information about each numbered flag.  For each grave they also recorded information such as the length and width of the grave depression; the name if there was a marker; the presence of any objects placed on the grave, e.g. a ceramic angel or a concrete swan; and the presence of plants such as yucca on or near the grave.  

While recording information near a grave that had a flat unmarked stone at it's head, a woman told us about the young girl who had been buried there.  These graves were part of this woman's family, and documenting family knowledge like hers is one of the reasons for the project.  Once Jim has provided the map to the Church, they can add names to the map.  Also the Church plans to add markers for any unmarked graves. 

It was a sunny day, and there was plenty of room to social distance.  Everyone wore masks.  We were not able to finish the mapping and will need to come back to finish.

https://youtu.be/-QAC6koi41Q  (So As Not to Forget video)