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Oakland Cemetery Collection

 Collection
Identifier: aarl98-003

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains: One (1) Numerical list of burials, Month, Day and Year from January to December and from 1850 to 1997; One (1) Alphabetical list of burials from A to I and from the year 1850 to 1997; One (1) Alphabetical list of burials from J to Z and from the year 1850 to 1997.

Dates

  • 1993

Creator

Restrictions on Use

This collection is available for use only on the second floor (Archives Division) of the Auburn Avenue Research Library. There are no restrictions on research use of the collection, but permission must be obtained for reproductions of materials for which the Research Library does not hold copyright to researcher only for "Fair Use" as defined in the copyright law (Title 17, United States Code). Also permission must be obtained to publish reproductions from materials for which the Research Library does hold copyright for one time used only.

Historical Sketch

Oakland Cemetery is an 88-acre hilly area in the southeastern section of Atlanta which contains the city's oldest extant burial grounds. The cemetery was established in 1850. A brick wall enclosing the cemetery with a pattern of brick pilasters, recessed panels and corbels was built in 1896. With 50 miles of brick streets and walkways, the grounds of the cemetery are an expression of the 19th-century landscape ideal of a cemetery-park and provide a luxuriant setting for its profusion of Victorian cemetery art.

The black section of the cemetery is on the northern end on sloping ground that looks toward the historic east-side black community. The landscape here is less crowded and the markers generally less elaborately detailed.

Oakland Cemetery is located at 248 Oakland Avenue, NE, near the intersection of Boulevard St. and Memorial Dr. where Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive ends. The main entrance is located on Oakland Street., off Memorial Avenue.

Extent

3.0 v.

Language

English

Overview

The collection consists of three volumes of numerical lists of burials of African American Atlanta residents in the Oakland Cemetery, organized by month, day, and year from 1850 to 1997 as well as alphabetical lists of burials, divided from A to I and from J to Z compiled by Edward Allen Myers.

Provenance

The Auburn Avenue Research Library, Archives Division received the Black Burial Records, Alphabetical and Numerical lists 1860-1997, from Mr. Edward Allen Myers Jr., ( Former Cemetery Manager of the Historic Oakland Cemetery) as a gift, February 16, 1998.

Processing Information

Processed by Okezie E. Amalaha, 1998

Title
Inventory of the Oakland Cemetery Collection aarl98-003
Author
Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
Date
2004 September 15
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History Repository

Contact:
101 Auburn Avenue NE
Atlanta GA 30303
404-613-4032