Cemetery Maps, 1876-1974 | The Green-Wood Cemetery

By Emily Chapin, Pratt School of Information Intern

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Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: 1876 Cemetery Maps, 1876

In 1876, three years of improvements and extensions of the cemetery necessitated the publication of a new map.  Green-Wood’s avenues had been re-graded and resurfaced, drainage moved underground, and excess shrubbery removed from lots.  Wooden grave number markers were replaced with iron posts and tablets to help guide visitors.  In addition, an Eastern entrance to the cemetery was being constructed and carriages were introduced to shuttle visitors to the far reaches of the cemetery.

The 1876 map depicts the cemetery as it was that year.  Roads, paths, ponds, hills and other geographical landmarks are labeled, as well as monuments or grave sites of interest to the public at the time, such as Peter Cooper, the Pierrepont family and Peter Schermerhorn.  The land is divided into 300-square-foot sections, which are numbered on the map and correspond with iron markers of the same number in the cemetery.

Prints of the 1876 map were created as a guide for visitors, and a larger version was created for use by Green-Wood’s offices and undertakers.  According to the 1876 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees, three hundred copies of the large map were printed and mounted on rollers.  The remaining 48 large maps are in varying condition, from maps that remain mounted and legible to maps that have suffered extensive water damage or are peeling from the canvas.

Box 1

Fair (1): Water damage along left side, otherwise intact.

Good (1): Small water stain on upper left, otherwise very intact.

Box 2

Good (1): One small spot beginning to peel at top of map.  Some mildew on canvas.

Box 3

Fair (2): Some water damage evident on canvas; maps intact and legible; one beginning to peel along middle seam.

Box 4

Fair (2): Map beginning to peel from canvas at top and sides; overall intact and legible.

Box 5

Fair (1): Small section of map peeling at upper right and along middle seam.

Box 6

Fair (1): Couple of holes at top of map; slight peeling; mainly intact and legible.

Poor (1): Significant water damage/stain along left side; peeling at middle seam.

Box 7

Fair (1): Slight water damage in upper right corner, otherwise map intact.

Poor (1): Water damage/mildew spots in top right corner; map beginning to peel.

Box 8

Fair/Poor (1): Map peeling from canvas along top, otherwise intact.

Poor (1): Large section peeling at top; disintegration along left edge.

Box 9

Fair/Poor (1): Couple of small sections of peeling at top and along middle seam.

Poor (1): Map separated from canvas at top right corner; peeling.

Box 10

Fair/Poor (1): Some water damage in upper corners, otherwise map intact.

Box 11

Fair/Poor (1): Water damage along right side, map beginning to peel at top seam.

Poor (1): Hole in upper left; peeling and disintegration along left side.

Box 12

Fair/Poor (1): Water damage along right side; peeling at upper right.  Otherwise legible.

Poor (1): Map peeling and tearing away from top frame.

Box 13

Poor (2): Map peeling and disintegrating; canvas tearing.

Box 14

Poor (1): Water damage along both sides; peeling/disintegration at top right corner and along right side.

Box 15

Poor (2): Water damage; map peeling from canvas.

Box 16

Poor (1): Significant peeling away from canvas.

Poor (1): Map separated from canvas at upper left; some water damage.

Box 17

Poor (2): Significant peeling and disintegration along left side of one map, right side of the other.  Water damage and mildew spots on both.

Box 18

Poor (1): Significant water damage/stains along left corner and side; map peeling at top.

Box 19

Poor (1): Water damage along right side; peeling along left; mildew spots along top edge.

Box 20

Poor (1): Torn from frame at upper left corner; peeling and water damage.

Box 21

Poor (1): Water damage along left side; peeling across map at top section.

Box 22

Poor (1): Water damage/spots throughout; some peeling.

Box 23

Poor (1): Water damage at top left and along left side; map peeling from canvas at bottom and middle seam.

Box 24

Poor (1): Map torn and peeling from canvas along right side.

Box 25

Poor (1): Water damage/stain along right side; beginning to peel

Very Poor (1): Missing top frame; canvas ripped; map peeling/disintegrating and in pieces. Fragile.

Box 26

Poor (1): Map peeling from canvas at top and along edges.

Very Poor (1): Torn from frame at top left; significant water damage along right side.

Box 27

Poor (1): Water damage throughout, but minimal peeling.

Very Poor (1): Canvas torn from frame at top left; significant peeling.

Box 28

Very Poor (1): Map and canvas ripped in several places along left side.

Very Poor (1): Canvas ripped almost entirely from top frame. Significant peeling, missing pieces.

Box 29

Very Poor (1): Missing top frame (in box); canvas very torn; map peeling and in pieces.

Very Poor (1): Missing top frame; canvas torn; map in pieces.

Box 30

Very Poor (1): Missing top frame; map peeling away from canvas; water damage/mildew on canvas.

Very Poor (1): Canvas very torn; map in pieces.

Box 31

Very Poor (1): Significant peeling; pieces of map missing; canvas torn from top frame.

Very Poor (1): Missing top frame; canvas ripped; map disintegrating.

Series 2: 1911 Cemetery Maps, 1911

In 1911 an updated version of the cemetery map was published.  The 1911 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees only mentions “guide maps” in the expense sheet for the year and does not elaborate further about the publication – reports became less detailed around the turn of the century.

The 1911 map depicts the cemetery as it was that year.  Roads, paths, ponds, hills and other geographical landmarks are labeled.  A greater number of monuments and graves of interest are labeled than on the previously published 1876 map.  Also note the addition of newly constructed buildings, such as the visitors’ chapel on the north side, and the relocation of outbuildings from near the northern entrance to the western entrance.

The maps are not mounted on rollers and remain in good condition.

Box 1

Good (3): Maps aren't mounted on canvas or rollers; paper in good shape; ink still strong; minimal wear along edges.

Series 3: Assorted Cemetery Maps, 1954-1990

This sub-series contains six maps, each depicting a different aspect of cemetery upkeep during the 1960s and 1970s.

Box 1: 1954-1976

Item 1: Land Development, 1972

Map of Green-Wood Cemetery on which areas of the cemetery are outlined in red, green or blue marker and dated with various dates in 1972.  The 1967 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees noted that all areas in the cemetery developed for single graves had been completely sold that year, and at the time the trustees had no plans for further development of any space.  The 1971 Annual Report states that in that year a new road was constructed so that the area facing Fifth Avenue, near the main entrance, could be developed for lot sales.  Sales in that area began in the spring of 1972.  In 1977 two feasibility studies were conducted for the development of two additional areas, one for about 400 lots and one to be used for single graves.

Item 2: Historical Sites

Map of Green-Wood Cemetery on which sites of interest are labeled, both in print and in pen.  Some sites printed on the map have been circled in pen, and others have been written in, such as “Billy West” in section #197.

Item 3: Perimeter Fence, 1974-1976

In 1974 Green-Wood began a lengthy project to reinforce the cemetery’s perimeter fence.  According to the 1974 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees, the base of the fence had begun sinking below ground level due to silt, and needed to be reinforced with a concrete base.  In 1974 1,400 feet of the fence were reinforced, followed by an additional 1,150 feet in 1975 and 2,200 feet in 1976.  Further Annual Reports note the reinforcement as an ongoing project, and in 1989 and 1990 the boundary fence was repainted.

On this particular map of Green-Wood portions of the perimeter fence are highlighted with the fence’s length in feet noted.  About 11,200 feet in total are labeled.

Item 4: Tree Pruning, 1966-1973

The 1969 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees notes that an “extensive tree pruning program” was instituted in 1968 which served to improve the overall appearance of Green-Wood, and which they hoped to continue at least through 1970.  In 1967, 275 new trees had been planted along Green-Wood’s avenues, and 200 “specimen trees” planted throughout the rest of the grounds.  This map of Green-Wood illustrates tree pruning over an eight year period, from 1966-1973.  Each year’s pruning is marked on the map in a different color, with a key found at the bottom of the map.  A separate, typed page is rolled up with the map, detailing the pruning for a particular (unknown) year.

Item 5: Road Resurfacing, 1954-1958, 1964, 1966

Map of Green-Wood Cemetery illustrating roads resurfaced.  A key at the bottom of the map shows what color corresponds to each year, and provides the distances of roads paved.  The upper right corner of the map is missing.

Item 6: Road Resurfacing, circa 1966

Two maps of Green-Wood Cemetery illustrating roads to be resurfaced, illustrated in blue and red and labeled with distances of each section to be paved.  A note on the second map indicates that some roads hadn’t been resurfaced in seventeen years.  Rolled up with the maps is a set of estimates and memos from the Collins Bros. Contracting Corps. detailing the roads and intersections to be paved.  According to the 1966 Board of Trustees Annual Report, five of the cemetery’s 22 total miles were resurfaced in 1966.  Fifteen additional miles of road were resurfaced in 1967.

Item 7: Road Resurfacing, 1964 and 1966

Two maps of Green-Wood illustrating roads and intersections to be resurfaced.  Roads on the eastern side of the cemetery are outlined and labeled with distances on the first map, which is labeled “Proposed.” The second map illustrates intersections to be resurfaced, and includes notes on the bottom from 1964 and 1966 regarding company used and price paid per square yard.

Item 8: Road Resurfacing, 1974

Encapsulated map of Green-Wood Cemetery illustrating which of the perimeter roads were resurfaced in 1974.  A notation indicates that five miles of road were resurfaced, which includes nearly the entire perimeter except Border Avenue between Sassafras Avenue and Vine Avenue, on the south side.

Item 9: Road Resurfacing, 1974 and 1976

Two identical maps of Green-Wood Cemetery illustrating, in red, which of the perimeter roads were resurfaced in 1974 and those that were resurfaced in 1976, marked in black.

Box 2: 1973-1990

Item 1: Proposed Route Sections, Unknown

Encapsulated map of Green-Wood Cemetery in which the land is divided into two sections by a line drawn along various avenues between 20^th Street and 37^th Street.  On the eastern half “Marchese” is written, and on the western half “Catalano” is written.

Item 2: Border Ave. Mausoleum, 1986

Set of four land surveillance maps illustrating plans to build a mausoleum at Border Avenue.  The work was done by William F. Fehringer, Licensed Land Surveyor, and included with the maps is an invoice.  The cemetery built its first mausoleum in 1979, after recognizing that not a lot of uncommitted land remained for burials.  The Community Mausoleum and Garden Mausoleum were built by 1984, and by that year 45% of available crypts had been sold.  The maps appear to be plans for a portion of what is now called the Hillside Mausoleum, perhaps the addition that was added in 1990.

Item 3: 1988 Cemetery Map, 1988

The 1988 cemetery map depicts Green-Wood as it was that year.  Like previously published maps, sites of interest are labeled, as are roads, paths, ponds and other geographical sites.  The recently constructed mausoleums are shown on the map, and all three are labeled “Community Mausoleum.” Green-Wood celebrated its 150^th anniversary in 1988, and the anniversary logo is on the upper left corner of the map.

Item 4: 1990 Cemetery Map, 1990

The 1990 cemetery map depicts Green-Wood as it was that year.  Like previously published maps, sites of interest are labeled, as are roads, paths, ponds and other geographical sites.  A couple of changes to cemetery paths to make room for additional lots are evident.  “Vista Hill lot” exists where Vista Hill Avenue previously formed a circle, and Edgewood Avenue near Crescent Ridge became Lot 44604.  Two mausoleums on the east side, previously labeled as “Community Mausoleum” have been renamed “Hillside Mausoleum” and “Crestview Mausoleum.”

Item 5: Trustee Routes, 1973-1975

Cemetery roads are highlighted in three different colors illustrating the 1973, 1974 and 1975 “Trustee Routes.”

Item 6: Zone Maps, 1990

Four identical 1990 Green-Wood maps with zones numbered in red marker, and some roads highlighted in yellow.

Item 7: Cemetery Sections, Unknown

The cemetery is divided into different sections, each colored in with a different color.  No key provided.

Item 8: Cemetery Quarters, Unknown

The cemetery is divided into four sections by drawn lines, and numbered one through four, with section one on the west side and four on the east side.