During the Spring 2014 semester several students at the College of Charleston's Historic Preservation and Community Planning program participated in their Senior Seminar titled "What is Your Heritage and the State of its Preservation?." For this class, each student had to conduct a lengthily in-depth research paper on the state of preservation of heritage sites, material objects, or traditions associated with their family's history. The assignment used genealogical research methods in an unconventional way by elevating the assessment of ancestors beyond typical names, dates, and generational...