WHS October 2024 Meeting and Gail Golec presents "From Slate to Granite: the Evolution of Gravestone Art in New England"

This Event is Free and Open to the Public!

Potluck Supper 5:30-6:30pm.

Members and the Public are invited to Join us for a delicious pot luck supper!

Members Meeting 6:30-7:00pm.

A business meeting will be held for members.

Presentation by Gail Golec 7:00pm: "From Slate to Granite: the Evolution of Gravestone Art in New England"

This lecture will cover the ways in which historic gravestone design in New England changed over time and how those changes can serve as a unique lens through which to study history and culture. Primarily focusing on the late-18th and early-19th centuries examples of gravestones from cemeteries throughout the Monadnock Region of southwest NH and the Windham County area of southeast Vermont. We will track the evolution of gravestone materials, learn the "anatomy" of the different parts of a gravestone and study their symbology. We'll learn how to identify certain local gravestone carvers and discuss how, through those designs, we can track the movement of new people and new ideas from region to region.

Gail Golec is a professional archaeologist who has worked on sites around New England for over 20 years. She currently works for Monadnock Archaeological Consulting. Gail was born and raised in New Hampshire and developed an interest in local history at an early age. Most recently, she has taken her years of research and funneled it into writing, producing and hosting a podcast about local history called The Secret Life of Death. www.thesecretlifeofdeath.com.