Category Archives: Uncategorized

An iron fence surrounds the John Rourke Family Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia.  The iron gates and fencing around a cemetery were common and imbued with a power—the power to keep the malevolent spirits such as ghosts, … Continue reading →

In a mausoleum in the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, California, a stained glass window represents a potent symbol throughout the world—ancient and modern.  In funerary symbolism it is depicted in many ways: as a yellow sphere; as spreading rays … Continue reading →

SACRED To the memory of MARY RAFFIAL Who was born in St. Augustine, Fla. in the year of our Lord A.D. 1816 and died in Savannah June 27th 1859 Aged 43 years One of the most ubiquitous symbols found in … Continue reading →

IN MEMORY OF TWO CHILDREN OF Andrew & Catherine HUGHES: JOSEPH DIED MARCH 7, 1853 AGED 3 MO. & 7 DAYS THOMAS N. WAS KILLED BY A HORSE OCT. 13, 1853 AGED 3 YRS & 14 DAYS I take these … Continue reading →

SACRED TO THE MEMORYOF MY SONALBERT HUBBELL WRIGHTBORN JUNE 28, 1856DIED AUG. 11, 1875 NEARER MY GOD TO THEE The white marble monument for Albert Wright in the Green-Wood Cemetery in New York depicts a seated mourning figure. The inscription … Continue reading →

JOHN HARRY STEDMANDIED OCTOBER 29, 1922ALICE SHERWOOD WELLS STEDMANDIED OCTOBER 7, 1906 There are many objects found in our homes that we take for granted. Each one was created by an inventor. Some of these objects were created by inventors … Continue reading →

According to the experts at the Phillipsburg Memorial Company in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, there are several modern techniques for carving letters and designs on tombstones, including the following techniques which are both machine made: “Sandblasting … involves using compressed air … Continue reading →

ET TENEO ET TENEORG. A. F.OUR SON AND BROTHER On the large gray granite family stone behind the white marble round top column, G.A.F. is listed: George Albert French1841 – 1864 The column dedicated to George Albert French has two … Continue reading →

Gravely Speaking and Syngrammata have decided to dig deep into our photo collections in order to bring you pairs of images drawn from our many years combing through American cemeteries. Each pair will be linked by a theme which we … Continue reading →

SUSAN B. ANTHONYFebruary 15, 1820March 13, 1906 There is an unassuming gravestone in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York—the unadorned rounded-top white marble marker for Susan B. Anthony. On Election Day, as a tribute to Anthony’s efforts to … Continue reading →