if cemeteries could talk what we could learn from a walk in the cemetery
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If Cemeteries Could If Cemeteries Could TalkTalk
What we could learn What we could learn from a walk in the from a walk in the cemeterycemetery
“Within Each community, cemeteries are among the most fascinating, richest, and often the most neglected sources of historical information. The age of the community, its ethnic composition and the impact made by immigration can be determined by investigating gravestones. The style of gravestone, the symbolism of their art and their inscriptions reflect religious beliefs, social class, values, as well as cultural change over time.” - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Burial PracticesBurial Practices
Burial practices vary from culture Burial practices vary from culture to culture and across time, for to culture and across time, for that reason we will confine our that reason we will confine our discussion to Western European discussion to Western European or Euro-American practices.or Euro-American practices.
What should I look for?What should I look for?Questions to ask…Questions to ask… Available Available cemetery recordscemetery records alone do not tell the alone do not tell the
complete story.complete story. The The inscriptioninscription can tell us something about the can tell us something about the
individual.individual. SymbolsSymbols can often tell us about something they can often tell us about something they
believed in or about an organization to which believed in or about an organization to which they belongedthey belonged
Grave placement or relative proximityGrave placement or relative proximity – why – why was the person buried close to someone or was the person buried close to someone or separated by some distance? Is this a reflection separated by some distance? Is this a reflection of their place in a relationship while among the of their place in a relationship while among the living?living?
Are the families buried around them any Are the families buried around them any relation?relation?
ObserveObserve
Were the internments (burials) in a section Were the internments (burials) in a section made at or about the same time?made at or about the same time?
Judging from the birth and death dates Judging from the birth and death dates were the people about the same age at were the people about the same age at the time of death?the time of death?
Do any of the dates coincide with known Do any of the dates coincide with known events in local history. (wars, famines, events in local history. (wars, famines, epidemics, floods or other natural disaster)epidemics, floods or other natural disaster)
Does this section of the cemetery give Does this section of the cemetery give evidence that it was set aside to receive evidence that it was set aside to receive members of the armed forces or clergy members of the armed forces or clergy etc.? etc.?
Reasons for human Reasons for human burialburial SanitationSanitation – avoid unpleasant odors from – avoid unpleasant odors from
bacterial decompositionbacterial decomposition Remove from viewRemove from view – remember appearance – remember appearance
as it was in lifeas it was in life RespectRespect – remains are not open to visible – remains are not open to visible
decay or predation by animalsdecay or predation by animals Bring closureBring closure – pain of loss can be lessened – pain of loss can be lessened
(out of sight – out of mind almost)(out of sight – out of mind almost) Step in the processStep in the process from life to an afterlife from life to an afterlife
Burial PlacesBurial Places
CremationCremation while always the norm in while always the norm in India is growing among Western CulturesIndia is growing among Western Cultures
Places also include: in Places also include: in mounds of earth, mounds of earth, underground cavernsunderground caverns and in temples and in temples
Modern times – bury dead Modern times – bury dead below groundbelow ground with stone markers to mark the place - with stone markers to mark the place - almost universal in western culturealmost universal in western culture
Marking the LocationMarking the Location
Serves two main purposesServes two main purposes– Grave will not accidentally be Grave will not accidentally be
exhumedexhumed– Contains information or tributes Contains information or tributes
to the deceasedto the deceasedForm of remembrance for Form of remembrance for loved onesloved ones
Form of immortalityForm of immortality
Marking contd.Marking contd.
Marked graveMarked grave = lasting memory, = lasting memory, fondness & respectfondness & respect
Unmarked graveUnmarked grave = consignment = consignment to oblivion or an ignominious end, to oblivion or an ignominious end, disdain and disrespectdisdain and disrespect
Anonymous BurialAnonymous Burial
Normandy France
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Washington D.C.
Secret BurialSecret Burial
Walt DisneyWalt Disney Eva Peron (Evita)Eva Peron (Evita)
Why study Why study gravestones?gravestones? History should include the lives of History should include the lives of
ordinary people and eventsordinary people and events Stones mark the graves of ordinary Stones mark the graves of ordinary
peoplepeople Gravestones provide valuable Gravestones provide valuable
information about family genealogy, information about family genealogy, local history, medical history, religious local history, medical history, religious history and changing fashion in art and history and changing fashion in art and literatureliterature
The power of the cemetery is its call The power of the cemetery is its call never to forget the loved ones who have never to forget the loved ones who have gone before us gone before us
History & Development History & Development of Cemeteriesof Cemeteries 1620 – 1820’s - Church Yard cemeteries – 1620 – 1820’s - Church Yard cemeteries –
follow British custom – in the church or follow British custom – in the church or “church yard”“church yard”
1831 - 1855 – “rural” or “garden” cemetery 1831 - 1855 – “rural” or “garden” cemetery movementmovement– Three great gardens: Garden of Eden (place of Three great gardens: Garden of Eden (place of
creation – a beginning)creation – a beginning)– Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (prayer, Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (prayer,
betrayal & transition to a new life)betrayal & transition to a new life)– Garden of the Holy Sepulcher (resurection,new life Garden of the Holy Sepulcher (resurection,new life
and reward)and reward) 1855 – 1920 – “lawn” and “memorial park” 1855 – 1920 – “lawn” and “memorial park”
movementmovement 1920 – present 1920 – present
Rural Cemeteries: Mt. Rural Cemeteries: Mt. Hope Cemetery Hope Cemetery RochesterRochester
Grave of Frederick Douglas
Forest Lawn: Buffalo Forest Lawn: Buffalo NYNY
Blocher Monument
Birge Memorial
Cemetery Symbolism
AnchorAnchor
AngelAngel
Broken ColumnBroken Column
Celtic CrossCeltic Cross
DoveDove
Draped UrnDraped Urn
Freemason’sFreemason’s
HandsHands
IvyIvy
LambLamb
LilyLily
LyreLyre
MoundMound
ObeliskObelisk
OrbOrb
RoseRose
SarcophagusSarcophagus
Forest Lawn
Sarcophagus – contd.Sarcophagus – contd.
Mount Calvary Cemetery
TorchTorch
Tree TrunkTree Trunk
UrnUrn
Willow TreeWillow Tree
GARGAR
Gravestones as Material Gravestones as Material Culture tell us something Culture tell us something about the deceased. Views about the deceased. Views & Values& Values
Negative view of deathNegative view of death
Only slightly more Only slightly more positivepositive
Positive ViewPositive View
Note: Picture of home in Germany pictured on face of stone
Proud Irish Heritage??Proud Irish Heritage??
Shamrock & Image of St. Patrick
An image frozen in time. An image frozen in time. Looking out and beyond Looking out and beyond the grave. the grave.
Note the open collar and leisure suit fashion of the 1970’s and early 80’s
Signature of last name & Signature of last name & placement close together placement close together indicates probable indicates probable relationrelation..
A loving couple? A loving couple? Remembered that way Remembered that way for all time.for all time.
Father & Son / Brother Father & Son / Brother & Uncle& Uncle
Note hair style and plaid shirt.
Hair style & beard typical of 1970’s
Interest or participation in sports for a 17 year old
The loss of a child cannot be replacedregardless of the beauty of the sculpture that
marks the passing
The Lord said – “ the times when you have seen only one set of footprints my child,
I have carried you!” Love is immortal
The inscription The inscription reads: “Molly tho reads: “Molly tho pleasant in her pleasant in her day was suddenly day was suddenly seized and sent seized and sent away. How soon away. How soon she’s ripe she’s ripe because she’s because she’s rotten, sent to her rotten, sent to her grave and now grave and now forgottenforgotten
InscriptionsInscriptions
Sears Catalog Sears Catalog TombstonesTombstones
For Further Reading & For Further Reading & StudyStudy Farrell, James J. Farrell, James J. Inventing the American Inventing the American
Way of DeathWay of Death. Philadelphia: Temple . Philadelphia: Temple University of Pennsylvania Press, 1980.University of Pennsylvania Press, 1980.
French, Stanley. French, Stanley. “The Cemetery as “The Cemetery as Cultural Institution: The Establishment Cultural Institution: The Establishment of Mount Auburn and the “Rural” of Mount Auburn and the “Rural” Cemetery Movement.”Cemetery Movement.” Stannard, David Stannard, David E., Editor, E., Editor, Death In AmericaDeath In America. . Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1975.Press, 1975.
Further Reading contd.Further Reading contd.
Mitford, Jessica, Mitford, Jessica, The American The American Way of Death.Way of Death. New York: Simon New York: Simon and Schuster, 1963.and Schuster, 1963.
Websites of InterestWebsites of Interest
http://www.forest-lawn.com/http://www.forest-lawn.com/
http://www.gravestonestudies.orghttp://www.gravestonestudies.org
www.sellersfuneralhome.comwww.sellersfuneralhome.com
http://ah.bfn.org/a/forestL/symbols/http://ah.bfn.org/a/forestL/symbols/index.htmlindex.html
http://members.tripod.com/~wnyroots/http://members.tripod.com/~wnyroots/