"Beyond the Grave" FYE Course on Sabbatical

 This course will not be offered during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. Hopefully, it will be back on the books for the 2021-2022 school year.  Please email me if you have any questions about my course, my cemetery and bird books, or anything else. I will see any emails sooner if you send to my personal account. Thank you.  

Patrick Harwood 
birdseyeviewspublications@gmail.com 

At St. Patrick Catholic Church (June 2020) for new book research

Alicia Rhett

Check out my blog about Gone With the Wind actress Alica Rhett.

A Glimpse at the Life of an Old Charlestonian

Click here to read my Old Charlestonian blog post!

Starr Barrett

Click here to read about my post about one very old Charlestonian!

Druggist Dr. George Washington Amair!

Check out my blog post about Druggist Dr. George Washington Amair on my blog! 

Old Charlestonian: John Geddes

John Geddes

Old Charlestonian: John Siegling

I have researched an Old Charlestonian who made Charleston more in tune! Check him out here!

The Peronneaus: First and Greatest of Everything?!

My blogpost about Henry Peronneau can be found here!

Old Charlestonian John Cassin

My Charlestonian project can be found on my blog.

Charleston's Famous Pink Church Painter: Henry Brintnell Bouneatheau

Check out my piece on famous local painter Henry Brintnell Bouneatheau here!

Druggist Dr.George Washington Aimar

This is prescription writing from
Dr.Aimar I found from
an Ebay listing in 2013.

Have you ever wondered what medicine was like during the Civil War? Find out more information by reading about Druggist Dr. George Washington Aimar!

This is an advertisement for an injection for
Gonorrhcha that was most likely posted in news
papers and around town. 

Dr. George Washington Aimar was born October 4,1827 in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a chemist and a druggist, Dr. Aimar opened a pharmacy in 1852 during the Civil War the pharmacy was located in Charleston, South Carolina. The pharmacy served as a dispensary for the Confederate States of America, and the top three floors were converted to a hospital. 

Many of the medicine and remedies
 were stored in old glass bottles
such as thing one also found
on Ebay for sale.

Not only did the pharmacy serve as dispensary for the Confederate States of American it also served as the town pharmacy. It was very old fashioned and held not only medicine but also well known remedies such as "Dragon's Blood' which was used to treat diarrhea and other digestive tract issues. Another reminder that Dr. Aimar's drug store had was "Brimstone" which was used to ward off evil and the dead. The remedies also supplied as holiday spices for cooking, special toothpaste, sewing thread, and their own "Aimar's Premium Cologne Water."

This is Dr. Amair pedestal grave marker
with a huge cross which is
 located at St. Mary's Catholic
cemetery. This photo is located on Findagrave.

Dr. George Washington Amair actually served with the Lafayette Artillery, in the Civil War and received an honorable discharge so he could return to his business as a chemist in Charleston. Dr. Aimar passed away on July 19, 1877 at the age of 49. He is buried to rest in St. Mary's Catholic Church graveyard. Which is located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. After he passed away his brother Charles decided to take over the pharmacy until 1903 and that is when Charles handed it down the family line to his son Arthur P. Aimar it remained open by the son until 1978. 

I chose to write this blog about Dr. George Washington Amair, because while looking up people who are buried in this graveyard, his name stuck out to me. I always have been interested in the history of medicine, and I thought it would be super neat to do research about a well known doctor and pharmacy back during the Civil War in the same city
in which I am studying in!

This is the writing on the stone this picture was taken
by itfelldown.

Although I was not able to find a picture of Dr. Amair himself, with the help of my professor I found this image on a blog about the Amair pharmacy, dated in 1916.

Susan Dunlap Adger

Hey guys! Check out my post about the Charlestonian Susan Dunlap Adger here! 

John Calhoun

Check out my blog post about John Calhoun here!

Robin Leo Beard, Jr.

To find out what my latest blog post was all about you can read about him here.

Rev John Bachman

Click here to read about my recent post on the life of Rev John Bachman of Charleston, SC!

John Maynard Davis

I recently did a blog post on John Maynard Davis, the first independent insurance agent in the United States. Go check it out here!

The Obituary of Mrs. Birdseye

Check out my "Old Charlestonian" post about Mary Hughes Carmichael Birdseye here!

"Old Charlestonian" Research Project

New Research and Writing Assignment: Hope You Are In The "Mood"!

Greetings Students!  As we continue our distance learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic here is the next blog post assignment.

You all did a great job with your personal ancestor research. Now I'd like to bring us all back to Charleston for the next project.  There is a very interesting man buried in the graveyard at Bethel United Methodist Church who is very prominent but few people today know about him.  Findagrave.com's Bethel UMC site, for example, lists only one "famous memorials" and it's not this person. He should be on such a list and we'll try to make that happen!

Rev. John Mood (courtesy geni.com) 

Rev. John Mood (1792-1864) deserves to be added to that famous/prominent list of Bethel burials.  What I judge the best research post on him I will, with the student's permission, submit it to findagrave to try to get Rev. Mood added as a famous memorial.

Mood was a Methodist minister and also part of a family of Charleston silversmiths.  Today, Mood- made silver products are valuable and highly sought after, from spoons, pitchers and jewelry to slave badges and bits, spurs and other equipment for Confederate cavalry during the Civil War. 

People at antique shops and high-end collectors in South Carolina and beyond, know the Mood name and greatly respect it.

Yon Miyasaki: A Manzanar Photogropher

I researched my great grandfather on my dad's side, Yon Miyasaki, who was relocated to a Japanese Internment camp. To read more about it click here!

William B. Durm: Oysterpreneur

Check out my research on William B. Durm, my great grandfather here! William was a great early businessman in Baltimore.

My Ancestor Blog Post

Here  is my blog post about my Great Grandma Byrdie L. Jones Parks.

Short Leg Stribling

For my ancestry post, I researched my great-grandfather Edward Wiley Stribling. If you'd like to know more about him click here!

The Father of Edgefield

For my project, I researched my maternal 6th great grandfather who lived during the Revolutionary War and is theorized to be the Father of Edgefield! You can read more about it here.

My Great-grandparents: Mohill, County Leitrim Ireland

I researched my paternal Great Grandparents and my eldest Great Uncle Paddy. My family were potato farmers in rural Ireland. Click here to read more!

The History Of My Great-Grandfather

I did research on my German family, in particular on my great-grandfather William Worthey. To find out more about his life you can click here!

The Minister From The 1600s!

I researched my ancestor, John Henry Livingston. He was a minister born in the 1600s! You can read more about his life here!

My Great Grandfather

My great Grand father, Dennis Martin Sullivan.

My Great Great Grandfather, Kid Nichols

Hey guys! Check out what I found out about my ancestor! Click here! 

A Look Back at Life 150 Years Ago

I researched my great-great-great-grandmother, Sallie Robinson, who lived a very interesting and long life. Find out more about her here!

An Up North Logger

Read all about the research I did on my great-grandpa, Charles Emery Walsh, here!

Ancestor Video Introduction Project

Here is an example of what should be covered in your ancestor blog post video introduction. Further instructions are below.

Patrick Harwood's introduction to his research post about his late grandfather Frank Gomez. It was trimmed in Adobe Premiere Pro then uploaded to my YouTube channel, then downloaded to this post.

Click here to read my research on Frank Gomez. 

The late Pediatrician

Come read and see how my great-great-grandfather's family came to the United States and how he made a living for himself.

Cooking Crouch

Famous baker in the Crouch Family? Find out for yourself here :)

Bella's "Fashionista" Great Aunt Louisa!

It was very interesting researching my Great Aunt Louisa who was quite into fashion during her time.  Read all about her here.  Thank you! 

Solving the Cougar Mall Headstone Mystery!

My students tonight are researching and writing blog posts to try to answer a question that it's safe to say most people on campus cannot. Why is there a headstone inscribed with the name of a U.S. president's mother in front of the Robert Scott Small Building?

Answers to come. Stay tuned!

Photo courtesy Caroline Stewart (Feb. 2019) 

The Untold Story Behind Elizabeth Jackson Headstone at COFC

Everyday when I walk to class I notice a headstone outside of maybank hall but I never really looked into why it was there and who's headstone it is. Tonight in our Beyond the Grave class our Professor Patrick Harwood took us outside to look at the headstone and we did some research on it. Continue reading to find out about the mysterious headstone located on the campus of COFC.

Elizabeth Jackson is the mother of President Andrew Jackson and died in Charleston in the fall of 1781. She was from North Ireland, Elizabeth Jackson chose to volunteer as a nurse aboard a pair of British prison ships in the Charleston harbor that had been stricken with cholera and smallpox. A few weeks later, she contracted the disease and died.

Elizabeth's Jackson's headstone  is located on The College Of Charlestons Campus in the main square called cougar mall. Many students and staff pass by the headstone everyday and do not notice it, myself included. 

Professor Patrick Harwoods VIDEO says that he thinks that Elizabeth Jackson was buried some where near Magnolia cemetery.There is no  photos on her online.

Her Head stone says " Near this spot is buried Elizabeth Jackson mother of president Andrew Jackson, She gave her life cheerfully for the independence of her country, on an unrecorded date in November 1781 and to her son Andy this advice "Andy, never tell a lie nor take what is not your own nor sue for slander settle those cases yourself."

Victorian Spendor/Victorian Tragedy

Click here if unable to view this Prezi.

Tips for Researching Grave Sites (St. Patrick's Example)

Click here to go directly to this Prezi presentation.

First Impression

Here's our first look at The Second Presbyterian Church.

(French) Huguenot First Impressions Blog

Hi everyone, here's the link to Philip and I's first impression post on the French Huguenot church!

Here's the First Scot's Presbyterian Church Impression

Here's the KKBE synagogue group first impression

St. Philips Church: First Impressions

https://graveyardgirldev.blogspot.com/2020/02/st-philips-church-first-impressions.html

Circular Congregational Church first impression project

Circular Congregational Church first impression project

First Impressions Blog Post

Here is our team's link to our first impressions blog post on St. John's Lutheran Church.

St. Mary's Group

Here's the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church group first impression blog.

Personal Ancestor Research Project Guidelines

Own Ancestor Research Projects

Students will have the chance to conduct genealogical research on one of their own long-ago family members with this upcoming project. 

An assignment sheet will be distributed in class and students need to turn in topics the next class. The blog posts will be due the class after Spring Break.  During this class, each student will bring up his or her ancestor blog post and briefly discuss it and the person written about. 

Dates:  Topic Submission- Feb. 24 
             Posts and Presentations:  March 23

See this post for additional information on this assignment and examples of past student ancestor research. 

Five Favorite Charleston Churches Assignment

Team Assignment I: First Impressions

Guest Speaker Ruth Miller Assignment: Due Feb. 10

Name These Marker Types

Types of Grave Markers

Blog Writing Tips and Techniques (Prezi)

This presentation goes over many keys to writing high-quality blog posts for this class. The tips and techniques apply to all writing.  Click here if you cannot view this Prezi.

10 Grave Marker Types Blog Post Assignment

Getting Started With Blogger Steps

Charleston's Downtown Churches with Churchyards

Each of these 14 churches and one synagogue has a graveyard next to it with the exception of the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) synagogue, which has its Jewish cemetery blocks away.

Here are the addresses of each house of worship.  They are listed in the order that we will walk to them during an upcoming class.

Second Presbyterian                          342 Meeting St. 

St. Mary Catholic                              95 Hasell St.

KKBE Synagogue                              90 Hasell St. 

St. Philip's Episcopal                        142 Church St.

French Huguenot                              136 Church St. 

First Baptist                                       61 Church St.  (due to renovations, not on the tour)

First Scots Presbyterian                   53 Meeting St. 

St. Michael's Episcopal                    71 Broad St. 

Circular Congregational                  150 Meeting St. 

Charleston Unitarian                        4 Archdale St.

St. John's Lutheran                           5 Clifford St. 

There are three churches pictured above that will not be among those selected for the team projects. This is because we will visit these three as a class and have individual assignments per our visits.  The three churches are:

Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul (Anglican)                126 Coming St. 

St. Patrick's Catholic Church                                                          134 St. Philip St. 

Bethel United Methodist Church                                                     57 Pitt St. 

Funeral and Cemetery Evolution

Course Introduction (Prezi)

Note: If you are unable to open this and other course Prezis, check in the toolbar at the top to see if they are being blocked.