From H-NJ:
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is seeking proposals for articles to
include in the formal exhibit catalog for the exhibit “Ghosts,Ghouls and
Gravestones: The Trades of Burial” set to run September 2013 through
February 2014. All articles should relate in some way to the theme of the
exhibit and the state of New Jersey.Abstract for the Exhibit:
The only guarantees in life are death and taxes.- Benjamin Franklin had it
right, death is one of the few guarantees in life and starting during the
colonial period the final phase of life helped to support numerous
tradesmen in the American colonies, later states. Among the several trades
involved were gravediggers, coffin-makers and gravestone carvers. Few
tradesmen could survive solely working these trades, unless they resided
in heavily populated areas during prosperous times, but they honed their
skills while producing similar products. While they may not have plied
their trades full-time these men helped their communities to mourn their
dead and continue with life. New Jersey tradesmen, notably John Frazee and
Uzal Ward, also made several major contributions to the mourning practices
and styles in the Mid-Atlantic region. Examples of these styles can be
found in Bottle Hill/Hillside Cemetery, which also has several prominent
graves. The exhibit will also explore some of the well known ghost stories
from the area that have influenced the way burial trades and mourning
practices are perceived.Please submit a 150-200 word proposal and C.V, by January 9, 2013.
Notification of acceptance will be made by the end of January.
Articles will be due June 17, 2013.
All proposals and questions should be sent to:
Siobhan Fitzpatrick
curator@metc.org