Mt. View Cemetery Project, Mary LaLone

Experiential Project for the Spring 2007 Applied Anthropology Class
An Anthro-planning Project to Research and Develop an Initial Set of Recommendations for Preserving and Maintaining the Mountain View Cemetery, an historic African American Cemetery in Radford, Virginia.
Development of a consulting report Mountain View Cemetery: Ideas and Recommendations for the Mountain View Cemetery Committee, Radford, Virginia.

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		Experiential Project for the Spring 2007 Applied Anthropology Class An Anthro-planning Project to Research and Develop an Initial Set of Recommendations for Preserving and Maintaining the Mountain View Cemetery, an historic African American Cemetery in Radford, Virginia. Development of a consulting report Mountain View Cemetery: Ideas and Recommendations for the Mountain View Cemetery Committee, Radford, Virginia. _________________________________________		Radford University's Service Learning, in association with five African-American churches in Radford, Virginia, has developed a long-term service learning project focused on the Mountain View Cemetery, an historic five-acre African-American cemetery in Radford. As one part of this effort, the Spring 2007 Applied Anthropology class undertook an anthro-planning project to help identify ways to revitalize and maintain the Mountain View cemetery as a community-focused heritage site. The class took on the role of an consulting team charged with investigating possibilities for the cemetery's revitalization including restoration and maintenance, funding, and designation as a historic site. The project took place from January-April 2007, starting with an orientation stage, followed by extensive research, analysis, and write-up stages. The team presented its recommendations to the Mountain View Cemetery Committee in a 116-page consulting report, Mountain View Cemetery: Ideas and Recommendations, in May 2007.
		The report includes ten sections. Background and methodology Recommendations and phasing, followed by specific recommendations for: Historical preservation Historic recognition Signs and an entry area Landscaping Maintenance and caretaking Security and trash removal Funding Community organization and sustainability To read the report, click here: Mountain View Cemetery Report.pdf. It may take a while to download it. Photo: Presentation of the consulting report by the Applied Anthropology team to members of the Mountain View Cemetery Committee and RU Service Learning. Applied Anthropology Project Director: Mary LaLone (pictured standing on left side) Applied Anthropology Student Research Team: Pictured left to right in the back row: Ashley Herwald, Louis Campbell, Laura Hale, Morgan Hawkins, Iris Dickerson, Phelan Kelly, and Lydia Rathbun Asst. Director of Service Learning: Teresa Dickens (pictured standing on right side) Participating community members who we especially wish to thank: Pictured left to right in the front row above: Lulabelle Lewis, Sarah Carter, Queen Alexander; not pictured: George Turner, Betty Turner, Carlton English.
		For further information about Anthro-planning, see: LaLone, Mary B. 2005 "An Anthro-planning Approach to Local Heritage Tourism: Case Studies from Appalachia." NAPA Bulletin (National Association for the Practice of Anthropology), Vol. 23: 135-150.

		Author: Mary B. LaLone, mlalone@radford.edu Radford University Please request permission before using photos from this site.