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Newark Cemeteries (1936 - 2002)
RepositoryNewark Public Library, Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center
Collection IDMG NWK Cemeteries
Size.25 linear feet (1 box)
Collection Description
This small collection consists of miscellaneous material relating to Newark cemeteries. Contents are as follows:

Folder 1, Notes on Potters Field: contains a 14-page manuscript entitled, "A Place to Bury Strangers in; Newark's City Cemetery from Its beginning up to 1936," by Everett W. Otto. Accompanying the manuscript are a photocopy of a sketch of the "Old Garabrant Mansion in Waverly"; a photocopy of an article regarding the Garabrant house (Aug 31, 1887); 3 maps noting the locations of the various City Burial Grounds; and an article "[Newark] Mortician Accused of Mass Burials" (Sarasota Herald Tribune, Dec 7, 1977).

Otto's manuscript includes names of several superintendents of the cemetery: John Fairchild (1867-1873), Aaron M. Garabrant (1873-1892), Thomas H. Fairchild (9 Foster St.; 1892-1908 and 1925-1939), Joseph W. Robinson (1908-1924), and Victor A. Pintozzi (53 Monroe St.; 1939-?).

Folder 2, Old Burying Ground: contains a letter from Stephen B. Levitt to Robert Steinbaum, publisher of the New Jersey Law Journal, regarding human remains within the Newark Arena construction zone (May 29, 2002); photocopies of 2 letters from Madison Grant regarding the lack of maintenance of the Old First Presbyterian graveyard (1920); and a photocopy of an article and photographs related to the Old First Presbyterian Church and the construction of a parking lot adjacent to the church (1955, 1959); and a list of the headstones (with name, date of death, and other transcribed information) that were transferred from the "Old Burying Ground" to the Fairmount Cemetery crypt in 1889

Folder 3, Correspondence re: Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery: contains correspondence and reports related to an Archeo-Anthropological project conducted with NJPAC and Trinity Church, including a photocopy of transcribed register entries entitled "Trinity Church Parish Records, 1806-1845, Deaths and Burials Records for Blacks," with names, but rarely surnames, date of funeral, and occasionally age and familial relationships of African Americans interred in the cemetery; recommendations related to the cemetery submitted by Prof. Clement A. Price, who argues for an anthropological study of the human remains buried at Trinity Cemetery and an appropriate memorial (1994); correspondence between the State Historic Preservation Officer and NJPAC regarding Trinity Church Cemetery mitigation (1993); and status reports and a budget related to the archaeological work undertaken by Greenhouse Consultants (1993)

Folder 4, Burials in St. John's Cemetery and Notes: contains correspondence between Thomas Clarkson Brenker and others regarding Brenker's attempts to discover the names of those buried in St. John's [Catholic] Church Cemetery, Mulberry St. (1985-1986); and a partial list of burials (1840-1900) in St. John's Cemetery, including details of 147 burials -- name of deceased, place of death, date of burial, age, parents' names and the deceased's place of birth, burial location, and cost of burial.
FormatTextual materials
SubjectsAfrican-American History / Civil Rights; Genealogy; Poverty / Philanthropy / Charities; Property / Urban Development; Religion / Churches
Time Periods20th Century; 21st Century
LanguageEnglish
Access policyOpen for research
Finding AidYes
Finding Aid URLhttps://newarkpubliclibrary.libraryhost.com/repositories/3/resources/152