Events

March Public Program

Colonial Burying Grounds: Interpreting the Past for the Present
A slideshow lecture by author Barbara Donahue

Wednesday, April 11, 2018 (snow date)
7:00 PM
The Apartments at Coolidge School Auditorium
319 Arlington Street
Watertown, MA 02472

Colonial burying grounds provide a unique glimpse into New England's past.  Many agree that gravestones serve as striking examples of colonial folk art, in addition to documenting important genealogical information.  What is often overlooked is the function of the burying ground in Puritan society; the ways in which changing attitudes towards death and a changing society are reflected in the physical and visual landscape of the burying ground; the function of the burying ground in today's world; and the constant struggle of maintaining this fragile resource.

Barbara Donahue will discuss some of the fascinating, forgotten stories she uncovered while conducting research for Preservation Management Plans for colonial buying grounds, as well as her book, Copp's Hill Evolution of a Puritan Burial Place 1659-The Present.

Ms. Donahue, a Registered Professional Archaeologist, received an M.A. degree in Historical Archaeology from UMass Boston in 1990.  She has decades of experience in her principal areas of concentration, New England historic archaeology and cemetery preservation.  Copies of Ms. Donahue's book will be available for purchase.

This program is free and open to the public.
For more information, call Joyce at 781-899-7239.