Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Mount Auburn: Chapters of Poetry & Prose

A publication of the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery 580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-547-7105 www.mountauburn.org Editorial Committee Bree D. Harvey, Editor Vice President of Cemetery & Visitor Services Lauren Marsh, Managing Editor Communications, Grants & Events Coordinator Jennifer J. Johnston, Photo Editor Media & Imaging Coordinator David P. Barnett, Contributing Editor President & CEO, Mount Auburn Cemetery Jane M. Carroll Vice President of Development Dennis Collins Horticultural Curator Candace Currie Director of Planning & Sustainability Tom Johnson Family Services Coordinator Meg L. Winslow Curator of Historical Collections Designer Elizabeth Bonadies Printer P+R Publications Cover Photo: Edward Wigglesworth monument, by Jennifer Johnston Trustees of the Friends of Mount Auburn Widgie Aldrich, Chair, Cambridge, MA David P. Barnett, Boxborough, MA Clemmie L. Cash, Sarasota, FL Thomas C. Cooper, Watertown, MA Geri Denterlein, Cambridge James F. Hunnewell, Jr., Chestnut Hill, MA Caroline Loughlin, Treasurer, Cambridge Sean McDonnell, Cambridge Caroline Mortimer, Vice-Chair, Cambridge Frank Reece, Cambridge Ann M. Roosevelt, Cambridge President’s Corner I recently spent the Thanksgiving holiday and extended weekend enjoying time with my family as we carried on the traditions we have enjoyed for generations. There were many highlights, but perhaps the most memorable was sitting around the “banquet table” at my parents’ home in Connecticut with 24 family members representing four generations and talking about what we were each thankful for. As always, we reminisced and laughed and told stories about the family members we have lost but not forgotten. President’s Corner Sweet Auburn Dave Barnett One of the many wonderful things about Mount Auburn Cemetery is that the memo- ries and stories of thousands of families are preserved here in stone. Some of these stories – those of our most notable residents – are well known to all, but most are only known to the families themselves. In this issue of Sweet Auburn, several of these family stories are told. A recurring theme is that Mount Auburn was and is a very special place in the hearts and lives of these families. The feature article, beginning on the next page, provides a sampling of literary works that portray the ever-changing evolution of Mount Auburn’s inspirational qualities and its meaning to the public. Since our founding in 1831, Mount Auburn has been a place of beauty and inspiration. Our dedicated staff and Trustees take great pride in maintaining the beauty of the Cem- etery and in serving all of our families and visitors with enthusiasm and compassion so that everyone will continue to be inspired by their visit to Mount Auburn. We are excited about the publication of Richard Cheek’s new book (see page 8), and we hope that Mount Auburn will continue to inspire photographers, artists, poets, and authors as it has for the past 181 years. We also hope that families will continue to choose Mount Auburn as their final resting place to preserve their own stories and the memories of their loved ones. Please visit the Cemetery in-person or via our website frequently to stay in touch with all that is happening as we continue to carry out our mission of preservation and service. Happy New Year! David P. Barnett, President Honorary Trustee of the Friends Susan W. Paine, Cambridge 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 inter- pretive 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 members. pg. 14 2 | Sweet Auburn pg. 17 pg. 19 Throughout this issue you will notice mentions of additional online content. Visit www.mountauburn.org/sweet-auburn-winter-2013 to explore more.

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