Designing for the Dead – The Art and Architecture in Philadelphia Cemeteries – Video

Tom Keels, author, historian and lecturer,  presented a talk on the art and architecture of Philadelphia cemeteries.

The birth of the rural cemetery in Philadelphia provided local architects and artists with a novel outdoor laboratory where they could exhibit their works, and experiment with new styles. John Notman, William Strickland, Alexander Milne Calder, Frank Furness, Horace Trumbauer, and Paul Philippe Cret all created designs for the cemetery. In some cases, they became “cradle-to-grave” designers for the city’s elite. The talk will discuss Quaker contributions to Philadelphia funerary heritage, including the role of Eli Kirk Price in establishing the Woodlands..