| The study of the grave memorials in St. Peter's was structured by five research propositions which focused on the communication of different aspects of identity, such as gender, through various memorial features. The memorial data was analyzed using a number of non-parametric statistical tests, such as the Chi-Squared and Mann Whitney U tests. The significant analytical results, which were interpreted with performance theory, indicate that the grave memorials in St. Peter's were in part designed to perform the identities of individuals and groups to the cemetery audience in line with the perception of different socioeconomic statuses, ethnicities, genders, and ages in Ontario during the mid-19th-early 20th centuries. This thesis demonstrates that multi-scalar identities can be interpreted through grave memorials if they are studied collectively and with an understanding of the relevant historical context, and reinforces the fact that multiple features of grave memorials must be analyzed in order to properly interpret their design. It also contributes to the limited understanding of grave memorial variation in Ontario during the time period concerned.;Keywords: grave memorials, cemetery, performance theory, identity, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, age, death, Victorian period, Peterborough, Ontario. |
