Association for Gravestone Studies Ephemera Collection
Founded in 1977, the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) is an international organization dedicated to furthering the study and preservation of gravestones. Based in Greenfield, Mass., the Association promotes the study of gravestones from historical and artistic perspectives. To raise public awareness about the significance of historic gravemarkers and the issues surrounding their preservation, the AGS sponsors conferences and workshops, publishes both a quarterly newsletter and annual journal, Markers, and has built an archive of collections documenting gravestones and the memorial industry.
The AGS Ephemera Collections contains a mix of materials relating to gravestones and the slate and marble industries. Most of the items relate to the marble and slate industries in Western Massachusetts and adjacent areas in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Background on Association for Gravestone Studies
Founded in 1977, the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) is an international organization dedicated to furthering the study and preservation of gravestones. Based in Greenfield, Mass., the Association promotes the study of gravestones from historical and artistic perspectives. To raise public awareness about the significance of historic gravemarkers and the issues surrounding their preservation, the AGS sponsors conferences and workshops, publishes both a quarterly newsletter and annual journal, Markers, and has built an archive of collections documenting gravestones and the memorial industry.
Scope of collection
The AGS Ephemera Collections contains a mix of materials relating to gravestones and the slate and marble industries. Most of the items relate to the marble and slate industries in Western Massachusetts and adjacent areas in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Inventory
“North River Blue Stone for curbing, guttering, street crossings, sidewalks, &c.
Bruton Parish Church: A Brief History, With a Map and Key List of Tombstones in the Church and Yard (Williamsburg, Va.,1939)
Ownership signature of L. Sidney Eslinger 1940 on front wrap
On letterhead of Clement, Sons & Co. Producers of Rutland Marble
Connecticut Courant & Weekly Intelligencer
Includes advertisement, p. 2, for Shaler and Hall stone quarry, Chatham “for public or private Buildings, Flags, Grave-Stones or Monuments. .. “
Frawley listed on his business cards alternately as a dealer in Granite & Marble Monuments and Quarryman, Erving, Mass.
Also includes blank printed receipt form
“Manufacturers and dealers in monuments, tablets, gravestones”
Agrees to furnish brownstone sills and granite doors sills. Meade was a dealer in “Building Stone and Monumental Work”
Cards for Elizabeth Leach (d. Sept. 23, 1888) and Mrs. Elizabeth Phelps (d. Nov. 26, 1888). Backmark on Leach for Memorial Card Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
On letterhead of W.H. Pelkey Slate and Iron Works
On letterhead of Sheldon Marble Co.
Printed form not completed
Mentions Standard Oil Co. problems
On letterhead of W. N. Flynt Granite Co.
On letterhead of “Wall and McCormick, Workers in Stone”
Administrative information
Access
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Acquired from the Association for Gravestone Studies, November 2009; many items were the gift of Mrs. Sidney Eslinger to the AGS.
Processing Information
Processed by Dex Haven, January 2010.
Related Material
The AGS Ephemera Collection is one of several collections that comprise the Association for Gravestone Studies Collections.
Language:
English
Copyright and Use (More information )
Cite as: Association for Gravestone Studies Ephemera Collection (MS 651). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
Search terms
Subjects
- Marble industry and trade.
- Slate industry.
Names
- Fair Haven Marble and Marbleized Slate Co.
- Farr Alpaca Co.
Genre terms
- Business cards.
- Circular letters.
- Ephemera.
- Memorial cards.