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Shippensburg University hosting history, cemetery preservation meeting


SHIPPENSBURG >> Shippensburg University will host the annual meeting of Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds, an organization dedicated to preserving the final resting places of Pennsylvania's African-American Civil War veterans, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24.

The event, hosted by the university's history/philosophy department, will feature a variety of speakers, technical workshops, field reports and site visits focused on sharing information and advancing the work of protecting historic African-American cemeteries across the Commonwealth.

The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. Deadline to RSVP for lunch is Oct. 16.

Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds is a network of cemetery caretakers, descendants of African-American Civil War veterans, churches, government officials, academics, and local historians working to identify, preserve, and share the history of Pennsylvania's African-American Civil War veterans and historic African-American burial grounds.

The group seeks to advocate for the protection of neglected, endangered, and forgotten sites, and to provide technical assistance to individuals and groups working across the state. The groups hold an annual meeting, as well as periodic workshops, field trainings, and public presentations.

The program includes a talk by Dr. Lynn Rainville of Sweet Briar College titled "Forgotten Histories: Locating and Protecting Historic African American Cemeteries" and a keynote talk by Dr. Tanya Thames Taylor of West Chester University on "Constructing Liberty: Freedom, United States Colored Troops, and Memory."

A workshop on long-term planning for historic cemeteries, field reports from sites across the state, and a walking tour of Shippensburg's Locust Grove Cemetery are also planned.

"We are so happy to be able to host this meeting in Shippensburg, and look forward to gathering people from across the state who are working to preserve and protect African-American cemeteries, said Dr. Steven Burg, chair of the department. "We are excited to welcome back people who have been doing this important work for decades, and connect them with young people who are looking for ways to serve their community or make a difference."

To register, go to the Pennsylvania Hallowed Ground's Facebook page, by registering at the meeting website, http://2015hallowedgrounds.app.rsvpify.com/ or by calling Barbara Barksdale at 717-579-0003.

For more information, contact Burg at 717-477-1189 or at sbburg@ship.edu.