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Thesis
Comparisons of mortuary data and demography for AME Zion cemetery and the Poor Farm in Pensacola, Florida
University of West Florida,
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2021
Abstract
Populations from two historic cemeteries in Pensacola, Florida were researched, analyzed, and compared through the use of archival and site survey records in order to understand connections between causes of death, ages at death, and socioeconomic status (SES). A total of 1,267 individuals were analyzed within this research (404 from AME Zion and 863 from the Escambia County Poor Farm) to answer 1) how the socioeconomic status (SES) of a selection of a population connects to their eventual cause of death and age at death; and 2), how SES is or is not reflected in the burial practices evident through extant surface material at cemetery site(s). The goal of this research was to better understand how the life experiences of people in the past affected their representations in death. Initial analysis of the overall populations (AME Zion n=404; Poor Farm n=863) showed higher rates of infant deaths and males at the Poor Farm than was seen in the AME Zion Pre1970 population sample of all ages. For these full samples, susceptibility to the most frequent causes of death categories (Illness and Disease) were the same at each site. With these similar levels however, individuals at neither site were living substantially longer than the other even when individuals at the Poor Farm had a significantly average SES. Analysis of the cause of death and age at death analysis samples (AME Zion n=240; Poor Farm n=419) as well as analysis of the SES subsamples (AME Zion n=133; Poor Farm n=408) highlighted sex and SES differences between the sites where the Poor Farm had a higher frequency of males and higher wages, on average. Conclusions found no connection between SES and the existence or absence of extant surface materials at AME Zion or the Poor Farm but brought to light the possibility of other cultural factors such as church affiliations and burial associations.
Details
- Title
- Comparisons of mortuary data and demography for AME Zion cemetery and the Poor Farm in Pensacola, Florida
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida,; [Pensacola, Florida] :
- Format
- text;electronic resource;remote;computer;online resource
- Number of pages
- 1 online resource (xi, 186 leaves : illustratons, maps, charts )
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Identifiers
- 99380090738606600
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Arts (MA)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida