3 Mount Auburn Cemetery Copying Books and Ledgers

Copies of letters (1860-1924) written by Mount Auburn's Superintendents, Secretaries, Treasurers, to and from Lot Proprietors. Providing a first hand account of the creation of a greenhouse and nursery, appointment of a Gardener's position, the installation of fountains in the ponds, and the creation of a committee to "protect, encourage and introduce birds within the property." Letterpress copying represents the first viable means of producing copies other than a longhand duplicate. The process, in which the original letter was transferred to a thin page in the copybook by a blotting process of the still wet ink, was common from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. Please note: these can be challenging to transcribe! Historical staff ledgers document Cemetery expenses.