Over the last two decades, Steven Burg has had the opportunity to visit and study many of Pennsylvania's historic African American cemeteries and burial grounds.  To date, over 150 burial grounds have been identified across the state that were created primarily by or for the burial of people of color.  These sites represent unique spaces reflecting the culture, traditions, and histories of local African American communities. This talk will explore some of the traditions and features of these African American cemeteries and will explain why it is so important that these places be documented, appreciated, and preserved. 

Biography: Steven Burg is a professor of history specializing in public history and historic preservation at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor's degree in History from Colgate University, and his master's and doctoral degrees in United States History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   For over two decades he has been researching African American cemeteries and burial grounds across Pennsylvania and working with grassroots organizations to document and preserve those sites. He is currently the secretary of Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds, a statewide organization dedicated to preserving Pennsylvania's African American cemeteries.

This presentation is free to the public, but all guests must register through Yapsody.