A Place for Memory commemorates the deep and rich value of African American cemeteries. Whether visible or invisible, these sites are important parts of the cultural and geographic landscape. Shearn and Klugh remind us that memories of Laurel Cemetery—and many other lost burial grounds—do matter.

Cheryl R. Rodriguez, professor of Africana Studies and Anthropology, University of South Florida

This must read book about Laurel Cemetery challenges what we think we know about preservation and Black sacred sites in America.

Antoinette Jackson, Professor of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Founder and Director of the Black Cemetery Network, Author, Heritage Tourism and Race-The Other Side of Leisure

During this pivotal time when many African American communities are trying to raise awareness about the historic injustices committed against African American cemeteries, this book demonstrates how current day activism and community based scholarship are shining a light on the forgotten past of Maryland African Americans.

Alexandra Jones, Executive Director of Archaeology in the Community

A Place for Memory is a powerful work of public scholarship. Painstakingly researched, the book documents the contributors' critical effort to relocate Laurel Cemetery and to reclaim the physical, social, and political landscapes on which it was established. The book is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary inquiry. Working together, public historians, archaeologists, archivists, genealogists and others have demonstrated that historic cemeteries are important sources for new areas of inquiry about the past and they can promote new avenues for preservation activism in the present. The essays in A Place for Memory book can help guide community-led initiatives to identify, restore, preserve, and explore the histories represented by other endangered or destroyed Black cemeteries. Elgin Klugh, Isaac Shearn, and their project collaborators have done a great service by documenting their process, sharing their findings, and telling compelling stories about the individuals and communities connected to Historic Laurel Cemetery.

Denise Meringolo, Associate Professor, UMBC

This excellent book is a holistic understanding of Baltimore's African American history, shedding more light on a consistent theme in the U.S., forgotten pasts, and a people's triumph and struggle even in their final resting place. The authors' approaches to revealing the narratives and history from underneath the ground are essential for successful collaborative community-engaged work in heritage preservation.

Dr. Alisha R. Winn, applied cultural anthropologist and founder of Consider the Culture