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If Cemeteries Could Talk

If Cemeteries Could Talk. What we could learn from a walk in the cemetery.

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If Cemeteries Could Talk

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  1. If Cemeteries Could Talk What we could learn from a walk in the cemetery

  2. “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

  3. Burial Practices • Burial practices vary from culture to culture and across time, for that reason we will confine our discussion to Western European or Euro-American practices.

  4. What should I look for?Questions to ask… • Available cemetery records alone do not tell the complete story. • The inscription can tell us something about the individual. • Symbols can often tell us about something they believed in or about an organization to which they belonged • Grave placement or relative proximity – why was the person buried close to someone or separated by some distance? Is this a reflection of their place in a relationship while among the living? • Are the families buried around them any relation?

  5. Observe • Were the internments (burials) in a section made at or about the same time? • Judging from the birth and death dates were the people about the same age at the time of death? • Do any of the dates coincide with known events in local history. (wars, famines, epidemics, floods or other natural disaster) • Does this section of the cemetery give evidence that it was set aside to receive members of the armed forces or clergy etc.?

  6. Reasons for human burial • Sanitation – avoid unpleasant odors from bacterial decomposition • Remove from view – remember appearance as it was in life • Respect – remains are not open to visible decay or predation by animals • Bring closure – pain of loss can be lessened (out of sight – out of mind almost) • Step in the process from life to an afterlife

  7. Burial Places • Cremation while always the norm in India is growing among Western Cultures • Places also include: in mounds of earth, underground caverns and in temples • Modern times – bury dead below ground with stone markers to mark the place - almost universal in western culture

  8. Marking the Location • Serves two main purposes • Grave will not accidentally be exhumed • Contains information or tributes to the deceased • Form of remembrance for loved ones • Form of immortality

  9. Marking contd. • Marked grave = lasting memory, fondness & respect • Unmarked grave = consignment to oblivion or an ignominious end, disdain and disrespect

  10. Anonymous Burial Normandy France Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Washington D.C.

  11. Secret Burial • Walt Disney • Eva Peron (Evita)

  12. Why study gravestones? • History should include the lives of ordinary people and events • Stones mark the graves of ordinary people • Gravestones provide valuable information about family genealogy, local history, medical history, religious history and changing fashion in art and literature • The power of the cemetery is its call never to forget the loved ones who have gone before us

  13. History & Development of Cemeteries • 1620 – 1820’s - Church Yard cemeteries – follow British custom – in the church or “church yard” • 1831 - 1855 – “rural” or “garden” cemetery movement • Three great gardens: Garden of Eden (place of creation – a beginning) • Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (prayer, betrayal & transition to a new life) • Garden of the Holy Sepulcher (resurection,new life and reward) • 1855 – 1920 – “lawn” and “memorial park” movement • 1920 – present

  14. Rural Cemeteries: Mt. Hope Cemetery Rochester Grave of Frederick Douglas

  15. Forest Lawn: Buffalo NY Birge Memorial Blocher Monument

  16. Cemetery Symbolism

  17. Anchor

  18. Angel

  19. Broken Column

  20. Celtic Cross

  21. Dove

  22. Draped Urn

  23. Freemason’s

  24. Hands

  25. Ivy

  26. Lamb

  27. Lily

  28. Lyre

  29. Mound

  30. Obelisk

  31. Orb

  32. Rose

  33. Sarcophagus Forest Lawn

  34. Sarcophagus – contd. Mount Calvary Cemetery

  35. Torch

  36. Tree Trunk

  37. Urn

  38. Willow Tree

  39. GAR

  40. Gravestones as Material Culture tell us something about the deceased. Views & Values

  41. Negative view of death

  42. Only slightly more positive

  43. Positive View

  44. Note: Picture of home in Germany pictured on face of stone

  45. Proud Irish Heritage?? Shamrock & Image of St. Patrick

  46. An image frozen in time. Looking out and beyond the grave. Note the open collar and leisure suit fashion of the 1970’s and early 80’s

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