Lecture explores African-American lives through funeral home programs

For more than 90 years, the Manigault-Hurley Funeral Home served generations of African-Americans as Columbia’s oldest family owned funeral home. The business closed in 2014, but the family donated the funeral home’s record books – which contained family histories that may not be found anywhere else – to South Caroliniana Library.

In a talk at the library Tuesday, curators Nathan Saunders and Mike Berry explore the rich African-American culture in South Carolina through the lens of Manigault-Hurley Funeral Home.

Their symposium, “African-American Collections at the Caroliniana: Homegoings, Funeral Homes and Celebrations of Community Life” uses Manigault-Hurley funeral programs, various manuscript collections and obituaries from African-American newspapers such as “The Lighthouse and Informer” and “Palmetto Leader” to paint a picture of the African-American experience at different times in South Carolina.

It’s set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday at South Caroliniana Library, 910 Sumter St. Free and open to the public.

The event is part of South Caroliniana Library's 175th anniversary celebration. More information about the anniversary is available at /library.sc.edu/p/Collections/SCL

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