The Cemetery Journal
Cemetery histories, folklore, symbolism, and original writing from the field. Every stone has a story. These are some of them.
The archive is being assembled. Stories, photography, illustrated tales, field notes, and death-positive reflections are added as they are ready. Society members receive new work first.
Featured Story
Stories from the Stones
Beneath the canopy of ancient oaks, the stones of Forest Hills tell stories that history books have long overlooked. We walked every row, read every name, and found a community that time nearly erased.
Local legend holds that on still nights, a particular grave in the hills of Shelby County hums with the voice of its occupant. We went to find out what the stones remember.
There is an ethics to photographing the dead. A reverence required. A responsibility to the names carved in stone and the families who still visit. Here is how I think about it.
The weeping willow. The broken column. The hand pointing upward. Victorian cemetery art is a language — and once you learn to read it, you can never walk through a cemetery the same way again.
Long before preservation was fashionable, a network of women across Alabama were quietly documenting, cleaning, and protecting the stones of their communities. This is their story.
The gate is the first thing you see. It sets the tone for everything that follows. Victorian cemetery architects understood this — and they built accordingly.
The Thistle-Eyed Girl
Illustrated mourning tales from the strange and tender world of the Thistle-Eyed Girl.
Coming to Society members first.
Speak Their Names
A recurring memorial feature preserving and respectfully sharing individual stories.
Submissions welcome — reach out to be considered.
Death-Positive Reflections
Thoughtful writing on mortality, remembrance, ritual, and the art of living with death in view.
Coming soon.
New Series
A Cemetery Journal series exploring the history, symbolism, and preservation of historic gravestone forms — written in connection with the Tombstones illustrated collection.
We are always looking for cemetery histories, local legends, preservation stories, and field notes from fellow taphophiles. Reach out.
Submit a Story