Title	France Cemetery: grave of Capt. Champ Ferguson, CSA
Creator(s)	West, Carroll Van
Date	2005
Coverage	2000-2009
Property name	France Cemetery
Property type	Cemetery
Community Name	Sparta, White County, TN
Latitude/Longitude	36.02562,-85.338027
Description	Color photograph of graves of various types and ages. The white headstone of Captain Champ Ferguson, Tennessee Cavalry, CSA backs up to a comb grave. A more modern granite tombstone with family name of Officer is also visible.
Historical Notes	The France Cemetery is the final resting place of famous Confederate partisan Champ Ferguson, who harassed Federal soldiers and Unionist supporters throughout the Upper Cumberland from 1862 to 1865. The cemetery also has many excellent examples of “comb” graves, a distinctive mid-19th century to early 20th century folk art tradition that is concentrated in White and Overton counties. Comb graves are made of sandstone, with gothic-inspired headstones and footnotes; the actual grave is covered by two rectangular sandstone slabs laid in tent-fashion, creating a “gable roof” over the grave. Among the most interesting examples of material culture in the region, the comb graves give this cemetery added historical significance.
Collection Name	Southern History Documentary Projects
Subject-LCSH	Cemeteries -- Tennessee
Subject-TGM	Cemeteries Tombs & sepulchral monuments
Type	Still image
Format	jpeg2000
Genre	Photograph
Medium	Paper
Processing notes	Electronic file
Copyright status	Copyright of the creator. Reproduced with permission
Conditions for use	Credit Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University Reproduction permitted for non-profit educational and research purposes only
Digital Publisher	Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University
Contributing Institution	Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University
Source file	FranceCemetery005