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Stories in Stone: New York: A Field Guide to New York City Area Cemeteries & Their Residents
Discover history and beauty in the graveyards of “Keister has done for cemetery exploration what Audubon did for birding.”—Sunset Magazine With Stories in New York, the author presents cemetery buffs with stunning photographs, fascinating text, and easy GPS directions for locating gracious architecture, fabulous artwork, and memorable gravesites of famous and not-so-famous area “residents” residing peacefully in its beautiful cemeteries. This fact-filled guide covers Green-Wood (part of “The Big Four”), churchyards & resting places in both Manhattan and the outer boroughs, and even the pet cemetery in Hartsdale. This unique take on New York’s landmarks is a collection of fascinating stories and images, including information on cemetery symbols, funerary architecture, secret societies and clubs, people, and even their dogs.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2011
About the author
Douglas Keister
75 books18 followersPhotographer-writer Douglas Keister, has authored and co-authored thirty-six critically acclaimed books. He also writes and illustrates magazine articles and contributes photographs and essays to dozens of magazines, newspapers, books, calendars, posters and greeting cards worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2022
This is one of Keister’s Stories in Stone series and as usual it’s very useful as not only a guide to individual cemeteries but a source of information on what was popular in different eras, death symbols and types of monuments. As the title indicates, this book deals with the New York City area, it’s larger cemeteries as well as a few small historic burial grounds in Manhattan itself.
The locations Keister describes seem overwhelmingly loaded with those who were “loaded.” A lot of very ostentatious, enormous monuments for the money makers such as bankers, financiers and captains of industry. These monuments can seem repetitious but some of the people have unusual stories. One interesting thing Keister brings up is that the architecture you see in a relatively small area can cover more styles than you ever could see easily in a large city. You can see classic Greek temples directly by Gothic cathedrals, next to Egyptian architecture and a combination of the above and more.
Some of the once rural, now suburban cemeteries have particular historic interest such as the Sleepy Hollow cemetery where you can visit the graves of the character Katrina Van Tassel or as she was in life, Eleanor Van Tassel Brush. Her aunt also resides there Catriena Ecker Van Tessel as well as the author Washington Irving. Headless horseman? I don’t know.
The introduction and concluding chapters are good reference sources explaining symbols and the history of the types of burial fashions found in the city and its surrounds. Each cemetery introduction gives its location as well as the location of the burials that are featured.
The locations Keister describes seem overwhelmingly loaded with those who were “loaded.” A lot of very ostentatious, enormous monuments for the money makers such as bankers, financiers and captains of industry. These monuments can seem repetitious but some of the people have unusual stories. One interesting thing Keister brings up is that the architecture you see in a relatively small area can cover more styles than you ever could see easily in a large city. You can see classic Greek temples directly by Gothic cathedrals, next to Egyptian architecture and a combination of the above and more.
Some of the once rural, now suburban cemeteries have particular historic interest such as the Sleepy Hollow cemetery where you can visit the graves of the character Katrina Van Tassel or as she was in life, Eleanor Van Tassel Brush. Her aunt also resides there Catriena Ecker Van Tessel as well as the author Washington Irving. Headless horseman? I don’t know.
The introduction and concluding chapters are good reference sources explaining symbols and the history of the types of burial fashions found in the city and its surrounds. Each cemetery introduction gives its location as well as the location of the burials that are featured.
February 19, 2013
This book is perfect for the graveyard tourist in New York. It has beautiful photos, good descriptions, and even GPS locations. It has all of the top cemeteries and well-known graves to visit. Mr. Keister has done an admirable job of presenting the stories.
The good: photography, trivia, notes, descriptions, research. He also gets a bonus for a sense of humor.
The bad: too much space devoted to dogs. Seriously. Pet cemeteries get more attention than Jewish cemeteries, which really bothers me. He also missed Cypress Hills National Cemetery, the only U.S. cemetery in New York, and only gives Staten Island 3 pages.
But overall, I highly recommend this book for family history fans, cemetery tourists, and photographers.
The good: photography, trivia, notes, descriptions, research. He also gets a bonus for a sense of humor.
The bad: too much space devoted to dogs. Seriously. Pet cemeteries get more attention than Jewish cemeteries, which really bothers me. He also missed Cypress Hills National Cemetery, the only U.S. cemetery in New York, and only gives Staten Island 3 pages.
But overall, I highly recommend this book for family history fans, cemetery tourists, and photographers.
January 17, 2013
In Stories in Stone New York, Keister offers cemetery aficionados, a fresh approach to the typical cemetery tome you’d normally find in the regional or local interest section of your nearby bookstore. This latest installment doesn’t hold back any punches. Coupled with beautiful graveside photographs, not to mention GPS coördinates, which will guide you along the way. As you visualize some of the most beautiful cemetery architecture, & artwork you’d find anywhere in the region. All the while strolling along the beautifully landscaped acres, admiring the gravesites of famous, and sometimes not so famous, movers and shakers of New York’s bygone eras.
In the book Keister pounds the pavement when it comes to the cemeteries highlighted in this handy pocket-size guide-book. The cemeteries, which you will no doubt be mesmerized by with the sights when you see them. Include but is not limited to: The Big Four (Green-Wood, Woodlawn, Kensico, & Sleepy Hollow). Historic Manhattan resting places, such as The Holy Trinity’s, St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery, & Ulysses S. Grant’s Presidential Tomb. Rounding off the cemeteries your also going to find Calvary, Cypress Hills, Ferncliff, Gate of Heaven, Moravian cemetery, and the old and new versions of St. Raymond’s, nicely represented as well.
The theme of Stories In Stone New York, is pretty much on par with Keisters other cemetery travel books. Especially when it comes to the sections on symbolism/iconography, and not to mention architecture. One of the things I enjoyed about this book, aside from the potpourri collection of famous personalities who have concise biographies, is the Stories In Stone section. This particular section includes a few heartwarming stories, which I’m sure you will enjoy. As I wrap things up let me just say this book will most definitely make a nice addition to your cemetery or grave hunting library. Even if you’ve never been to New York, like me or plan to visit the region in the future, I think you’d enjoy this book.
In the book Keister pounds the pavement when it comes to the cemeteries highlighted in this handy pocket-size guide-book. The cemeteries, which you will no doubt be mesmerized by with the sights when you see them. Include but is not limited to: The Big Four (Green-Wood, Woodlawn, Kensico, & Sleepy Hollow). Historic Manhattan resting places, such as The Holy Trinity’s, St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery, & Ulysses S. Grant’s Presidential Tomb. Rounding off the cemeteries your also going to find Calvary, Cypress Hills, Ferncliff, Gate of Heaven, Moravian cemetery, and the old and new versions of St. Raymond’s, nicely represented as well.
The theme of Stories In Stone New York, is pretty much on par with Keisters other cemetery travel books. Especially when it comes to the sections on symbolism/iconography, and not to mention architecture. One of the things I enjoyed about this book, aside from the potpourri collection of famous personalities who have concise biographies, is the Stories In Stone section. This particular section includes a few heartwarming stories, which I’m sure you will enjoy. As I wrap things up let me just say this book will most definitely make a nice addition to your cemetery or grave hunting library. Even if you’ve never been to New York, like me or plan to visit the region in the future, I think you’d enjoy this book.
April 27, 2014
While Forever LA doesn't appear to be in the Stories in Stone series, that book shares shape and design with this one. Stories in Stone New York is a major improvement over the LA edition.
The NY volume opens with an illustrated dictionary of the architectural styles to be found in cemeteries centered around the New York City area. Keister's lovely photography shines, even if some of the glorious mausoleums are shrunken down to the size of a postage stamp.
Toward the back of the book is a section called Cemetery Symbolism. I learned that the veil draped over the urns you see everywhere symbolizes the veil between earth and heaven -- and that a book "can be compared to the human heart...open to the world and to God." I've read a lot of explanations of gravestone iconography and those things I did not know.
The chapters of the cemeteries themselves win beyond most cemetery books because Keister includes GPS coordinates with the monuments he discusses. No more wandering hopefully around graveyards, trying to follow incomplete directions! Finding your way around the book is a little more complicated. As in the LA volume, some of the best stories are pulled out of the cemeteries to which they belong to be included at the back of the book. I would much rather have all the cemetery together in one place than be flipping around, trying to find the whole story of a place.
In terms of cemetery guides, the Permanent New Yorkers book is probably more useful than this one, even if it's dated. The biographies are fuller and the organization is clearer. Still, there are good inclusions in Stories in Stone, particularly the chapter on the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and the story about Anthony Casamassima, who stole Tiffany windows from mausoleums and sold them to antiques dealers. Those two tales sum up the best and worst of people's behavior in regards to the dead.
I can't wait to get a hold of Keister's volume on Paris.
The NY volume opens with an illustrated dictionary of the architectural styles to be found in cemeteries centered around the New York City area. Keister's lovely photography shines, even if some of the glorious mausoleums are shrunken down to the size of a postage stamp.
Toward the back of the book is a section called Cemetery Symbolism. I learned that the veil draped over the urns you see everywhere symbolizes the veil between earth and heaven -- and that a book "can be compared to the human heart...open to the world and to God." I've read a lot of explanations of gravestone iconography and those things I did not know.
The chapters of the cemeteries themselves win beyond most cemetery books because Keister includes GPS coordinates with the monuments he discusses. No more wandering hopefully around graveyards, trying to follow incomplete directions! Finding your way around the book is a little more complicated. As in the LA volume, some of the best stories are pulled out of the cemeteries to which they belong to be included at the back of the book. I would much rather have all the cemetery together in one place than be flipping around, trying to find the whole story of a place.
In terms of cemetery guides, the Permanent New Yorkers book is probably more useful than this one, even if it's dated. The biographies are fuller and the organization is clearer. Still, there are good inclusions in Stories in Stone, particularly the chapter on the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and the story about Anthony Casamassima, who stole Tiffany windows from mausoleums and sold them to antiques dealers. Those two tales sum up the best and worst of people's behavior in regards to the dead.
I can't wait to get a hold of Keister's volume on Paris.
October 14, 2011
Informative, fun, had a good tour through Woodlawn cemetery with the author and he signed my book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews