Oak and Laurel's Saved Dates - Events in 2017

Angel statue in Giovanni Bersaglieri tomb, Metairie Cemetery. Photo by Emily Ford.

2017 has already been a busy year for Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, LLC.  In the past few months, we’ve traveled to Baton Rouge for the restoration of the Governor Henry Watkins Allen monument, visited Covington Cemetery No. 1 for a consultation trip, and met dozens of tomb owners and stakeholders from New Orleans to Shreveport.  In February, Oak and Laurel’s research was cited by the Washington Post in an article concerning Jewish cemetery vandalism.
 
Spring and summer 2017 are already starting to fill up with challenging projects and interesting presentation dates.  To find us in the field or lecture hall, mark your calendars for the dates below!

A volunteer stabilizes a headstone while resetting, HOPE Crew 2016. Photo by Emily Ford.

April 10 – April 27:  HOPE Crew Chalmette Volunteer Month
It’s that time of year again!  The National Trust for Historic Preservation Hands-On Preservation Experience (HOPE) Crew will be returning to Chalmette National Cemetery for a month of service to the historic cemetery and our country’s veterans. 
 
Last year, Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, LLC participated in one week of a four-week project.  This year we’re thrilled to be at Chalmette for two weeks!  We’ll be supervising a re-setting crew, operating chain hoists and other equipment to straighten and re-align headstones.  Other volunteer crews will perform preservation-grade headstone cleaning and documentation of markers.

This is a great opportunity to care for an important historic resource, as well as a chance to learn technical preservation skills – and even meet like-minded folks from the area!  Last year, HOPE Crew drew nearly 500 volunteers, spending nearly 2500 hours in the cemetery.  The impact on Chalmette Cemetery was incredible.
 
Check out some great video footage from last year’s volunteer month:
        HOPE Crew at Chalmette National Cemetery
        HOPE Crew:  Re-setting Headstones in Chalmette
        HOPE Crew:  Stories from Chalmette
 
Register for HOPE Crew Chalmette Volunteer month.
 
We’re so excited to be back in Chalmette this year – see you in the cemetery!

Volunteers resetting headstones, HOPE Crew 2016. Photo by Emily Ford.

To find Oak and Laurel elsewhere in 2017- here are some of our upcoming speaking engagements:
 
May 20:  2017 American Italian Federation of the Southeast (AIFEDSE) Convention, Gretna, LA
The schedule of the annual convention of the American Italian Federation of the Southeast includes all sorts of attractive features including a wine tasting, swing music, and a presentation by New Orleans own authority on Italian heritage and history, Sal Serio.  

Tomb of the Contessa Entelina Society, Metairie Cemetery. Photo by Emily Ford.

We will be at AIFEDSE on Saturday May 20 as a guest speaker, presenting a discussion of Italian heritage in New Orleans cemeteries.  The presentation will focus on Italian society tombs, their historic significance, threats to their preservation, and success stories of reclamation and restoration.  Learn more at the AIFEDSE homepage.  

At the annual conference of the Association for Gravestone Studies 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pictured: John O'Brien, Holly Hope, Beth Santore, Dave Chabala, Emily Ford, and Brenda of the Gravestone Girls.

June 20 – 25:  Annual Conference of the Association for Gravestone Studies, Tuscaloosa, AL
The Association of Gravestone Studies (AGS) has been a force for cemetery study and preservation since 1977.  In addition to publishing a regular journal, AGS serves as a clearing house for research on cemetery preservation and architecture.  The annual conference of AGS provides an unparalleled venue to learn, network, and collaborate with cemetery lovers nationwide.
 
It’s rare that the annual conference of AGS makes it to the southern states (last time was Savannah, Georgia, in 2002) which makes it exceptionally exciting that AGS 2017 will take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

This is an excellent opportunity for cemetery researchers, genealogists, preservationists, and craftspeople to represent the diversity and importance of southern cemeteries.  Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, LLC will be presenting on lost and demolished New Orleans cemeteries.  We will also be collaborating with Sam Beetler II of the City of Savannah Department of Cemeteries for a discussion of how independent contractors and cemetery owners can preserve cemeteries together.
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The program for AGS Tuscaloosa promises a rich collection of scholarly research, workshops, discussions, and adventures to Alabama cemeteries.  In our experience, nothing compares to the fellowship and enthusiasm of an AGS conference – we can’t wait!

Participants at photography workshop in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, AGS 2016. Photo by Emily Ford.

July 20:  American Italian Cultural Center, New Orleans, LA
Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, LLC will be returning to the American Italian Cultural Center on Peters Street in the Central Business District this July for a presentation on the Italian contribution to New Orleans cemeteries.
 
Last year we presented to a full room about Italian tombs, stonecutters, and famous burials.  This year, we will be adding to this research and including some interesting facts we couldn’t include in last year’s lecture. 
 
September 18:   Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans, Metairie, LA
Finally, we will be presenting September meeting of the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans, at the East Bank Regional Library at 7pm.  We will be sharing insights on genealogical research and cemetery records, as well as little-utilized resources and innovative research methods.
 
2017 is going to be a productive year of preservation and collaboration with dear friends.  We still have availabilities for presentations and lectures.  To learn more, contact us at [email protected].