Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn The Art of Memory: Monuments Through Time | Page 2

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
Jennifer J. Johnston, Managing Editor
Webmaster, Media & Imaging Coordinator
David P. Barnett, Contributing Editor
President & CEO, Mount Auburn Cemetery
Steve Brown / Preservation Craftsperson
Jessica Bussmann / Education & Volunteer Coordinator
Jane M. Carroll / Vice President of Development
Dennis Collins / Horticultural Curator
Candace Currie / Director of Planning & Sustainability
Gus Fraser / Director of Preservation & Facilities
Jenny Gilbert / Senior Gifts Officer
Stephanie Gillette / External Affairs Coordinator
President’s Corner
Many of the pleasures of Mount Auburn are ephemeral,
from the brightly-plumaged warblers and vibrant flowers
of the spring to the spectacular foliage of the fall. But one
feature remains constant throughout the year–the monuments
erected in the landscape to honor the memory of those buried
here. These monuments, ranging from inscribed flat memorials
to tall and grand works of sculptural art, appear to be solid
unmoving stone, but they have lives of their own, both in
the stories they tell and in their presence in the landscape
around them. Their stories live on through the research
Dave Barnett
and educational efforts of our historical collections staff
and volunteers, while their physical presence lives on through the work of our preservation
staff. In this issue, we explore the meaning and challenges of maintaining these monuments
of Mount Auburn and introduce you to the staff responsible for preserving them. We also
provide examples of how new monuments continue to enhance the landscape as new
memories and traditions are added to the collection that make the Cemetery a visible
representation of remembrance and love for those who have passed.
I hope you enjoy the stories.
David P. Barnett, President
Regina Harrison / Executive Assistant
James Holman / Director of Cemetery Sales
Tom Johnson / Family Services Coordinator
Katherine Robinson /
Cemetery Development & Preservation Associate
Meg L. Winslow / Curator of Historical Collections
Consultant
Maura King Scully, MKS Communications
Printer
P+R Publications
In this Issue
Cover Photo: Thomas Handasyd Perkins Monument, Lot
108 Central Avenue, by Jennifer Johnston Feature article: The Art of Memory / 1
Trustees of the Friends
of Mount Auburn Photo Essay: Monument Symbolism / 8
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
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.
2 | Sweet Auburn
Stories Behind the Stones:
Staff, Volunteer, and Donor Favorites / 12
pg. 4
Preserving Mount Auburn / 13
Cemetery Services / 14
People & Happenings / 15
Volunteer Profile: Bill McEvoy / 16
Did You Know? / 20
pg. 11
Fundraising Initiative / 21
Upcoming Events / Back Cover
pg. 19
President’s
Corner
Sweet Auburn