Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Mount Auburn as a Community Resource

A publication of the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery 580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-547-7105 www.mountauburn.org Editorial Committee Priscilla P. Morris, Editor Senior Vice President of Development Stephen H. Anable Writer David P. Barnett, Contributing Editor President & CEO, Mount Auburn Cemetery William G. Barry, Jr. Vice President of Preservation & Facilities Dennis Collins Horticultural Curator Candace Currie Director of Planning & Sustainability Bree D. Harvey Director of Education & Visitor Services Jennifer J. Johnston, Photo Editor Visual Services Coordinator & Staff Photographer Sean J. O’Regan Vice President of Cemetery Services Stephen R. Silver Director of Leadership & Planned Giving Brian A. Sullivan Archivist Natalie Wampler Preservation & Facilities Planner Margaret L. Winslow Curator of Historical Collections Designer Elizabeth Bonadies Printer P+R Publications Cover photo: Cambridge Montessori kindergarten class visits Auburn Lake, June 2009. Photo by Jennifer J. Johnston President’s Corner In this issue we explore some of the many different ways that Mount Auburn is an important resource for our local community and beyond. We have long summed up our mission at Mount Auburn Cemetery as one of “preservation and service.” As a National Historic Landmark, there is no doubt that Mount Auburn is committed, as a priority, to preserving this landscape of natural and horticultural beauty and significant monuments, art and architecture. Likewise, there is no question that because Mount Auburn is also an active cemetery, providing high-quality service to our clients at a time of need is of critical importance. David Barnett But Mount Auburn is so much more complex than those simple words “preservation and service” might indicate. We are visited every day by a diverse mix of visitors ranging from students (kindergarten through graduate school) to professional colleagues to birders, history buffs, artists, and neighbors simply looking for inspiration and enjoyment. In the lead article on the following page, Steve Anable does a superb job of interviewing a number of our clients and visitors and capturing in their own words what Mount Auburn means to them. It is gratifying to read the recurring comments about the professionalism, dedication and compassion of Mount Auburn’s staff. We do indeed have an amazing staff, of which I am extremely proud. This has been a challenging year, as we have had to make diffi- cult decisions to reduce expenditures in response to the declining financial environment. Over and over again, however, the creativity and dedication of the staff has enabled us to maintain the high standards of maintenance and service that visitors to Mount Auburn have come to expect. We are still in sound financial condition and remain optimistic about our future. One of the cost-saving measures we have taken is to insert the FY2009 Annual Report to Proprietors into this issue of Sweet Auburn to reduce printing and mailing expenses. As outlined in the Annual Report, we continue to pursue our Strategic Plan that envi- sions Mount Auburn as an active cemetery and dynamic cultural institution for many decades into the future. We have exciting plans and look forward to sharing them with you in future issues of Sweet Auburn. Trustees of the Friends of Mount Auburn Mary Lee Aldrich, Secretary, Cambridge, MA Clemmie L. Cash, Chair, Wellesley, MA Thomas C. Cooper, Watertown, MA Caroline Loughlin, Treasurer, Weston, MA Sean McDonnell, Cambridge Caroline Mortimer, Cambridge Ann M. Roosevelt, Cambridge David P. Barnett, President Honorary Trustee of the Friends Susan W. Paine, Cambridge 2 | The Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery was established in 1986 to assist in the conservation of the Cemetery’s natural beauty and to promote the appreciation of its cultural, historic and natural resources. Organized in 1990 as a 501(c)3 non- profit charitable trust, the Friends seeks financial support from its members, other individuals, foundations, corporations and public agencies. It receives gifts for educational and interpretive programs and materials for the public, specific cultural projects, and operating support for horticultural rejuvenation and the preservation of the historic monuments, structures, and archival artifacts and records. The Friends has over 1,300 active Sweet Auburn members. pg. 1 pg. 8 pg. 13 President’s Corner Sweet Auburn

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