Springfield Preservation Trust Lecture

Deciphering Springfield Cemetery’s Oldest Gravestones: Symbolism & Carvers

Join historian Derek Strahan as he explores Springfield Cemetery, which contains the city’s oldest gravestones, including hundreds of stones that date to the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Local stonecutters produced most of these, and their work reflects the changing styles of gravestone art and attitudes toward death during and immediately after the colonial period. Join local historian Derek Strahan via virtual lecture on January 9 at 7:00 pm as he explores some of the highlights from the old section of Springfield Cemetery, including an overview of the evolution of gravestone styles, the symbolic meanings of the design elements, as well as the identities of these local gravestone carvers. Please sign up for the lecturer here.

Don’t miss this interactive experience! The lecture will be broadcast live on Facebook from the Springfield Preservation Trust’s Page on January 9 at 7 pm. We encourage you to participate by asking questions during the Q&A session. If you have any questions before the event, please contact [email protected]. Springfield Museums is partnering with us this year on this project.