Destination the Cemetery - Bibliography
A Note Regarding Resources: Items are listed on this page that enhance work with the topic discussed. Some older items, especially, may include dated practices and ideas that are no longer generally accepted. Resources reflecting current practices are noted whenever possible
Selected Resources
Anthrop, Mary E., ed. 19th Century Headstones of Tippecanoe Co. [Lafayette, IN: Central Catholic High School, 1982.]
This limited edition publication is the result of the work of the 1981-82 U. S. history class at Central Catholic High School. It offers surveys, photographs, and rubbings of gravestones in Tippecanoe County.
Coffin, Margaret M. Death in Early America. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers, 1976.
This work provides interesting reading about the history and folklore regarding the customs and superstitions of early medicine, funerals, burials, and mourning.
Jones, Mary-Ellen. Photographing Tombstones: equipment and techniques. Nashville, TN: American Association for State and Local History, Technical Leaflet 92, issued as part of History News, Vol. 32, no. 2 (February 1977).
Basic information on cemetery photography and techniques is provided in this leaflet.
Metcalf, Fay D., and Matthew T. Downey. Using Local History in the Classroom. Nashville, TN: The American Association for State and Local History, 1982.
Metcalf and Downey include lesson and project ideas on using the cemetery as a data source.
Mitchell, Don, and Gary Grimm. The Cemetery Box. Carthage, IL: Good Apple, Inc., 1975.
The Cemetery Box contains delightful activities for elementary and middle school students using cemeteries to teach mathematics, language arts, social studies, and art. It is currently out-of-print but may be located in educational resource centers.
Meyer, Richard E., ed. Cemeteries and Gravemarkers: Voices of American Culture. Ann Arbor, MI: U M I Research Press, 1989.
This book is a collection of essays which demonstrates the relationship of gravestones to the American culture.
Newman, John J. Cemetery Transcribing: preparations and procedures. Nashville, TN: American Association for State and Local History, Technical Leaflet 9, issued as part of History News, Vol. 26, no. 5 ( May 1971).
This leaflet is full of helpful information and provides just what the title indicates.
Nicholas, Anna. The Story of Crown Hill. Indianapolis: Crown Hill Association, 1928.
This is a comprehensive history of Crown Hill Cemetery.
Nolan, Ann, and Keith A. Buckley. Indiana Stonecarver: The Story of Thomas R. Reding. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1984.
Indiana Stonecarver provides text and photographs of the work of Thomas Reding who carved gravestones in Indiana from 1840 until his death in 1852.
Sanford, Wayne L. The Crown Hill Cemetery. [Indianapolis: Crown Hill Cemetery and Crown Hill Heritage Foundation, 1991.]
This revision of the 1988 anniversary edition provides a history of Crown Hill as well as two walking tours of the cemetery. It is a newspaper-format publication.
Sloane, David Charles. The Last Great Necessity: Cemeteries in American History. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
Sloane traces the history of burial places and practices in the United States from early graveyards to the American way of death in the 1990s.
Strangstad, Lynette. A Graveyard Preservation Primer. Nashville, TN: The American Association for State and Local History and Association for Gravestone Studies, 1988.
This primer includes chapters on assessing the problem, organizational concerns, collecting data, and remedies. It provides practices regarding gravestone activities that reflect modern conservation standards.
Weitzman, David. Underfoot: An Everyday Guide to Exploring the American Past. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1976.
Underfoot is a guide to exploring the past for the non-expert. The chapter entitled “Resting Places” is very informative.
Special Acknowledgments
Wayne L. Sanford and Marty Davis of Crown Hill Cemetery for their assistance and cooperation.
Kay Nay of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, for her research of church records.