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Slideshow: Tripping Out to Angelus Rosedale Cemetery

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IMG_AngelusRosedale 26 Now this is what a real graveyard should look like: Mausoleums, tombs, monuments and headstones pushing up like daisies from the grounds — not boring flat markers like those found in modern “memorial parks.”

Time and again I find myself taking field trips to Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, located at 1831 W. Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles. Dating to 1884, it’s the city’s first integrated, non-sectarian cemetery, and the final resting place for a host of famous and infamous Southlanders alike.

Here, for instance, you’ll find Cora Phillips, one of 19th century LA’s most popular “female boarding house” proprietors. There’s also the crypt of the wealthy Louise “Lulu” Maier, who had one lulu of a funeral in 1897. Then there are the obscure and forgotten dead whose markers hint at fascinating stories, like that of Lawrence Prudhont.

Creepy as it sounds, a growing number of people are getting in touch with their historical and genealogical roots by touring old cemeteries. In the process, they’re discovering that such burial grounds have a lot to teach the living. (Yes, a spooky old graveyard can be a place where history and culture are literally etched in stone.)

The above slideshow features my most recent Angelus-Rosedale photos, taken this past weekend. More than a gallery of haunting pictures for Halloween season, they’re intended to showcase different examples of funerary art. As you browse them, consider the significance of the following:

IMG_AngelusRosedale 1Angels: Popular figures on chiseled monuments, the positioning of these winged messengers can symbolize much. For example, an Angel may be pointing a finger toward the sky, where the deceased soul now dwells, or writing the dead’s name in the Book of Life. An angel holding a wreath or flowers expresses mourning. An angel holding an anchor expresses hope. Standing guard over a child’s grave, you might find a kneeling, childlike or cherubic angel.

Religious Icons: The style of a cross on a marker or tomb can give you an inkling of a person’s religion. A Celtic cross, for instance, likely marks a Catholic grave. A cross lying on its side represents a Christian soul at rest, regardless of denomination. A cross etched obliquely on a chalice or urn likely memorializes a Protestant. A cross with an anchor and crown represents the virtues of faith, hope and charity — again a popular symbol for many Christian denominations. A Star of David, of course, can highlight a Jewish grave, along with other symbols, such as scrolls.

Columns and Trees: An unfinished column or a tree stump can refer to a life cut short. Full columns suggest a full life. Dual columns signify passage into another life. Tree trunks can also be signs that the deceased was a member of the 19th-century Woodmen of the World society.

Pyramids and Obelisks: Egyptian architecture and symbols became popular in the early 1900s. Pyramids convey immortality and endurance, while obelisks stand for eternal life and resurrection.

IMG_AngelusRosedale 2Other Allegories: A hooded or shrouded woman expresses grief, especially when weeping or slumped over. In some cemeteries, lambs are common motifs to mark children’s graves, as are heart-shaped headstones. Inscriptions superimposed over a shield-like outline usually indicate a soldier’s grave, notably Union Civil War dead. Gates and arches suggest passage into the next life. A popular symbol in Victorian times, an urn speaks to death of the flesh.

(Source: Your Guide to Cemetery Research)

Slideshow Tips

Mousing over the slides will bring up a dialogue box to to stop, start, go forward or backward. Clicking on an image will bring up more view options for that picture, including the ability to view the original full-size in a separate window.


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