History Professor’s Book on Historic Charleston to be Subject of Discussion at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture will continue its "Celebration of Books" recently published by Holy Cross faculty with a discussion on Stephanie E. Yuhl’s A Golden Haze of Memory: The Making of Historic Charleston on March 29 at 4 p.m. in the College’s Rehm Library. The event is free and open to the public.

In A Golden Haze of Memory (The University of North Carolina Press), Yuhl critically examines the city of Charleston, S.C., between 1920 and 1940. It was during this time that city leaders worked to promote Charleston’s cultural heritage and national value. Through a network of elite white artists, literary figures and cultural groups, the city marketed its architecture, art, literature and African American folk culture — and downplayed its Confederate associations. Yuhl believes that this "sanitized" version of southern history was a translation of the memories of privileged whites into a collective identity for the city that ultimately protected social hierarchies and preserved their power.

Susan Rodgers, professor of anthropology, will review the book, Yuhl, associate professor of history, will respond with her own remarks and an open floor discussion will follow.

The event is the continuation of a series of discussions of books by faculty that run across the concerns of the Center — religion, ethics and culture.