INDUSTRY OF DEATH: THE EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION ON NORTH CAROLINA HEADSTONES

Abstract

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a shift from marble headstones to granite has been observed across the United States and in parts of Canada, as well. The goal of this study is to determine when this shift in headstone material occurred in North Carolina, and what factors contributed to this transition. Another objective is to determine how this shift impacted the expression of cultural meaning in North Carolina cemeteries. By examining how the shift from marble to granite caused changes to headstone morphology and style, this project will show how memorialization of individuals is influenced by headstone manufacturing processes. Ultimately, this study illustrates the effects of industrialization on the North Carolina cultural landscape as manifested in the state's cemeteries by analyzing the means of production and the expression of identity.