On May 14 at 7 p.m., the Montgomery County Genealogy Club will be hosting a guest speaker on “Woody Landscape Plants of Early 19th Century Cemeteries: History, Symbolism, and Identification.”
Join us as library assistant and resident dendrologist Stephanie Morrissette will provide an in-depth view of why certain trees and other woody plants were planted in early pioneer cemeteries. This program will include images of species discussed, as well as their cultural history, spiritual symbolism, and physical identification characteristics.
Trees in religion were planted to memorialize the deceased and as an indicator of the triumph of eternal life over death. From pagan beliefs to early Christian practices, plants have been used to provide a record of life long after departed. Trees in cemeteries provide much more information than speaking for the dead: they provide a primary source of information regarding the local history and genealogy of the people they serve. There is more than religious significance to cemeteries as cultural meaning allows the social history to be recorded in time.
Before the 1830s, cemeteries were mostly small, such as church graveyards, family plots on private property, or newly established town cemeteries. These cemeteries, or from the Latin “sleeping chambers,” were modest and simple. Then, in the Victorian Era, beginning in the mid to late 1800s, cemeteries became more park-like and aesthetically pleasing as larger cemeteries were being developed. Historically, people went to cemeteries on “holiday” to picnic and relax. The rural cemetery movement marched on, and many cemeteries around the country are now arboretums and botanical gardens.
There is a rich history of cemetery landscape plantings. People were often buried near trees, shrubs, or perennial flowers, which represented, in general, family, creation, and the Tree of Life. Each plant had its symbolism and meaning, mirroring the characteristics of the person in life. These plantings served the purpose of sheltering the dead, providing an eternal watch, and representing life everlasting through green renewal each year. As cemetery plantings gained popularity, there was a shift away from a punitive death to a redemptive death where faults could be forgiven. Moreover, many of the trees and woody plants in older cemeteries today have species that are still alive.
If you would like to learn more about specific woody plants and trees in early Indiana cemeteries, please plan to attend the Genealogy Club of Montgomery County’s meeting on Tuesday, May 14th, at 7 pm. Snacks will be provided.
The library’s operating hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. To schedule a Local History appointment to aid in your genealogy research, please call us at 765-362-2242.
Stephanie Morrissette is an avid naturalist and a library assistant in the Adult Services Department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
