Overview

An old graveyard, writes Ruth Little, is a cultural encyclopedia--an invaluable source of insight and information about the families, traditions, and cultural connections that shape a community. But although graveyards and gravemarkers have long been recognized as vital elements of the material culture of New England, they have not received the same attention in the South. Sticks and Stones is the first book to consider the full spectrum of gravemarkers, both plain and fancy, in a southeastern state. From gravehouses to cedar boards to seashell mounds to tomb-tables to pierced soapstones to homemade concrete headstones, an incredibly rich collection of gravemarker types populates North Carolina's graveyards. Exploring the cultural, economic, and material differences that gave rise to such variation, Little traces three major parallel developments: a tradition of headstones crafted of native materials by country artisans; a series of marble monuments created by metropolitan stonecutters; and a largely twentieth-century legacy of wood and concrete markers made within the African American community. With more than 230 illustrations, including 120 stunning photographs by Tim Buchman, Sticks and Stones offers an illuminating look at an important facet of North Carolina's cultural heritage. |An old graveyard, writes Ruth Little, is a cultural encyclopedia--an invaluable source of insight and information about the families, traditions, and cultural connections that shape a community. But although graveyards and gravemarkers have long been recognized as vital elements of the material culture of New England, they have not received the same attention in the South. Sticks and Stones is the first book to consider the full spectrum of gravemarkers, both plain and fancy, in a southeastern state. From gravehouses to cedar boards to seashell mounds to tomb-tables to pierced soapstones to homemade concrete headstones, an incredibly rich collection of gravemarker types populates North Carolina's graveyards. Exploring the cultural, economic, and material differences that gave rise to such variation, Little traces three major parallel developments: a tradition of headstones crafted of native materials by country artisans; a series of marble monuments created by metropolitan stonecutters; and a largely twentieth-century legacy of wood and concrete markers made within the African American community. With more than 230 illustrations, including 120 stunning photographs by Tim Buchman, Sticks and Stones offers an illuminating look at an important facet of North Carolina's cultural heritage.

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9780807824177

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[B]ooks like Sticks and Stones are treasures that should be in every library. Vernacular Architecture Newsletter

[B]ooks like Sticks and Stones are treasures that should be in every library.<p> Vernacular Architecture Newsletter

Little offers a method to explore-even celebrate-that diversity yet provide a coherent a narrative of change. Journal of Southern History

Little offers a method to explore-even celebrate-that diversity yet provide a coherent a narrative of change. Journal of Southern History Little offers a method to explore--even celebrate--that diversity yet provide a coherent a narrative of change. Journal of Southern History [B]ooks like Sticks and Stones are treasures that should be in every library. Vernacular Architecture Newsletter [S]uch a work of love, and it is, at the same time, very valuable to the understanding of traditional culture.Terry G. Jordan, author of Texas Graveyards: A Cultural Legacy YBooks like Sticks and Stones are treasures that should be in every library. Vernacular Architecture Newsletter YSuch a work of love, and it is, at the same time, very valuable to the understanding of traditional culture.Terry G. Jordan, author of Texas Graveyards: A Cultural Legacy Ruth Little illuminates the history as well as the artistry of gravemarkers in North Carolina. Catherine W. Bishir, author of North Carolina Architecture This excellent study is highly recommended for decorative arts, folklore, American studies, and history collections. Choice [S]uch a work of love, and it is, at the same time, very valuable to the understanding of traditional culture.Terry G. Jordan, author of Texas Graveyards: A Cultural Legacy Ruth Little illuminates the history as well as the artistry of gravemarkers in North Carolina. Catherine W. Bishir, author of North Carolina Architecture This excellent study is highly recommended for decorative arts, folklore, American studies, and history collections. Choice

Author Information

During twenty-five years documenting architectural history for the State Historic Preservation Office and as a private consultant, M. Ruth Little, an art historian, has worked to record, understand, and preserve the material culture of North Carolina. Tim Buchman is an architectural photographer whose work also appeared in the award-winning North Carolina Architecture.

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