By Emily Chapin, Pratt School of Information Intern
Title: Cemetery Maps, 1876-1974
Predominant Dates:1876
Extent: 33.0 Boxes
Arrangement: The series are defined by type of map, and are arranged chronologically.
Subjects: Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History, Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
Forms of Material: Brooklyn (New York, NY)-- Maps
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.
Fair (1): Water damage along left side, otherwise intact.
Good (1): Small water stain on upper left, otherwise very intact.
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.
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.
Fair/Poor (1): Map peeling from canvas along top, otherwise intact.
Poor (1): Large section peeling at top; disintegration along left edge.
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.
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.
Fair/Poor (1): Water damage along right side; peeling at upper right. Otherwise legible.
Poor (1): Map peeling and tearing away from top frame.
Poor (1): Significant peeling away from canvas.
Poor (1): Map separated from canvas at upper left; some water damage.
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.
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.
Poor (1): Water damage throughout, but minimal peeling.
Very Poor (1): Canvas torn from frame at top left; significant peeling.
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.
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.
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.
Very Poor (1): Significant peeling; pieces of map missing; canvas torn from top frame.
Very Poor (1): Missing top frame; canvas ripped; map disintegrating.
