Kevin's Old Charlestonian

Hey friends, check out my latest blog post on the history of Dr. Edward Henry Strobel. Thank you!

Sunsets and Headstones at St.Paul and St. Luke Graveyards

Check out my post about my exploration of the St. Paul and St. Luke graveyards!

Check out my newest blog post!--Aubrey Burgess

Check out my newest blog on my great grandpa, Jesse Burgess along with Princess Pale Moon!
http://aubreyburgess.blogspot.com

Kool Kreations With Kizoa!

Kizoa is a really neat, fun, and easy-to-use slideshow program. It is free- just go to the website and do the steps to set up your account.

Kizoa has a vast library of special effects, animations and music that can turn a so-so slideshow into something fun and engaging. Check out this Kizoa slideshow I did not long ago about Charleston's beautiful and historic Magnolia Cemetery, about which (plug alert!) I have written two books.

Magnolia Birds - Kizoa Online Movie Maker


The College of Charleston's First Year Experience is really top notch. Its purpose is to better acclimate freshmen to life in college with all of its many challenges and opportunities. 

Apple iMovie Editing Video Tutorial

I produced this video specifically for the Mac students who may use Apple's iMovie to create a final project in our "Beyond the Grave" First Year Experience course at the College of Charleston.

I am hopeful that this may benefit these students in the future as well when they may have other chances to produce amazing videos. The tutorial runs 10:50. 

Ironically, I edited this iMovie tutorial in Windows Movie Maker. I don't have a Mac computer. The video was shot at South Carolina State University where I am an instructor in the emerging Communications Program. 

"Flashlight" Graveyard Tour Change of Venue a Hit

I'm one for two with Presbyterian churches this semester!

First Scots downtown was wonderful, inviting me to speak recently about my Magnolia Cemetery books, and having first class attendees, food and audio-visual equipment for my presentation.

But 2nd Presbyterian Church , also downtown on Meeting Street, earned second (last place really) place status with me after not allowing my students and I to visit on the night of Nov. 16- this after weeks of speaking with an administrator there and having her approval. I won't give the details but it left a bad, bitter taste...

Plan B, though, worked out nicely. Bethel United Methodist Church, located at the corner of Calhoun and Pitt streets next to CofC's Addlestone Libary, has a lovely small graveyard. Dating all the way back to 1797 at this location, Bethel UMC has a very rich and interesting history. 

So the students and I visited there. The objectives were to see and photograph "epic" epitaphs for an upcoming assignment and also for the students to scout the old Charlestonian gravesite that each will write about in a research project due at the end of the term.

Some photos I took during our Nov. 16 visit:

Olivia Gartner's Top Ten Favorite Places in the World Prezi Presentation!

Week 3 Prezi Presentation: Funeral and Cemetery Evolution

In this Week 3 Prezi on Sept. 14 we will explore the evolution of funerary and cemetery customs in the world and America.

Today's "Plain Jane" Cemeteries

In sharp contrast between the interesting and unusual things seen at the old church graveyards and large "rural" cemeteries of the 19th century are today's memorial park (or memorial garden) or lawn park (or garden) cemeteries.