Genealogy Event - "The French Influence on New Orleans Cemeteries"

Emily Ford, a cemetery preservationist, monumental mason, and writer of New Orleans cemetery history, will discuss “The French Influence on New Orleans Cemeteries,” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration.

Emily Ford worked in New Orleans since 2011 and wrote her graduate thesis on historic craft in Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. She is a graduate of the Clemson University-College of Charleston Master of Science in Historic Preservation program.

Ford’s work focuses on empowering cemetery stakeholders in the care and preservation of their property. As owner of Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, she has completed dozens of tomb, tablet and monument restorations as well as an ongoing scholarly-cited blog presenting historic cemetery research.

Part of Ford’s presentation will focus on French architect Jacques Nicolas Bussiere de Pouilly (1804-1875) arrived in New Orleans in the 18302.  His work, based on pattern books from Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, created in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, a menagerie of tomb architecture which was copied, adapted, and altered by vernacular builders for generations.