New Orleans Architecture: Volume III: The Cemeteries

by Leonard V. Huber

Simple cottages, urban mansions, and amalgamations of Creole and Anglo-American-type homes blend together to form one of the few antebellum New Orleans neighborhoods.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1974

Reviews

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sponsored by the Friends of the Cabildo (an historic preservation volunteer organization), New Orleans Architecture, Vol. 3 is a continuation of their books detailing the past of this extraordinarily multicultural city. New Orleans Architecture #3 is a superbly comprehensive work, containing much to appeal to scholars, aficionados of cemetery imagery, and artists looking for evocative source material. Exceptionally designed, it manages to supply in-depth data while remaining accessible and inviting.
Chapters contributed by different writers are consistently excellent, covering subjects in a lively and fast-moving fashion. It is quite apparent the various authors were united and inspired by love and fascination for their subject.

Hundreds of crisply reproduced black-and-white photographs (with an 8-page “color album” section) chronicle “A Brief History of New Orleans Cemeteries,” “Influences in 19th-Century Funerary Architecture,” and even the amazing variety of “Cemetery Ironwork.” As an example of the thorough and well-organized nature of this book, the latter chapter has sections on crosses (44 different designs photographed and illustrated), gates and railings, spikes and terminals.

The mostly modest-sized photos are intended to illustrate the rich funerary architecture of the Crescent City rather than to serve as stand-alone “works of art,” yet the artistry of the creators of these monuments to the dearly departed -- and the sensitivity and technical skill of the photographers -- makes this book a treat for the eyes.

An essay by Bernard Lemann, “Thoughts on New Orleans and Preservation: A Cemetery Elegy” concludes the book. Arguing for minimal restoration that does not disrupt the atmosphere of a decaying old cemetery, he writes, “weeds atop a wall or parapet, the wild, aggressive roots, and the dank, gaping crypt with a glimpse of an antique cast iron casket are appropriate complements to the homely inscriptions that feed the ruminative mood of the cemetery stroller.” Lemann adds, “Such signs of oblivion are of course symbolic messages.”

As one compares the drearily utilitarian modern cemeteries to the rich and imaginative testaments to grief and reverence crafted in stone depicted here, it is difficult to avoid thinking that the “march of progress” proceeds backward as well as forward.

[Batgrl (Book Data Kept Elsewhere) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely detailed on the architecture, stonework, ironwork, and history of the cemeteries of New Orleans. Multiple black and white photos, and a nice long bibliography. If you've never visited New Orleans this will give you a really good idea of what there is to see, and what the histories are behind the monuments - both the humans memorialized and the artists who created the structures.

I purchased my copy at the National Park shop in the French Quarter, but I'm actually not sure if they have one there anymore. Anyway, it's easy enough to find on Amazon and elsewhere.

[I posted a quote from this book here.]

[Liz Clappin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book probably works best witching the context of the full series (this is Vol. 3 I believe). A good working knowledge of the city is essential to getting the most out of it, and I think a lack of maps is definitely a drawback. Seeing how cemetery placement followed expansion would be very useful. The introduction to the history of cemeteries in the city is strongest, some of the topical articles are pretty commonplace in the cemetery world and it's a stretch to elevate some of New Orleans' cemeteries to something they're not. Overall a solid read but probably too esoteric for someone with a general tourists interest.

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful resource. Only shaved off one star due to Huber's racist undercurrent (he rarely mentions prominent black burials). He also ignores Carrollton Cemetery (no pictures of a few of the fine tombs) and literally has nothing to say about St. Mary's.

[Minda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on NOLA cemeteries.