Title	Mt. Olivet Cemetery: entrance sign
Creator(s)	West, Carroll Van
Date	2001
Coverage	2000-2009
Property name	Mt. Olivet Cemetery
Property type	Cemetery
National Register Reference	02000237 listed March 20, 2002
Community Name	Jackson, Madison County, TN
Description	Black and white photograph of an entrance arch upside down leaning against a one-story building with gable roof; next to building is a tree; sign reads "Mt. Olivet Cemetery."
Historical Notes	Established in 1885, Mt. Olivet Cemetery is the largest, private African American cemetery in Jackson, and is still in use today. It was especially popular with the growing upper middle class and professional segment of the local black community from 1890 to 1930. Based on a 1995 survey of extant cemetery grave markers, the earliest marked burial is from 1885. Prominent burials include doctors, ministers, businessmen, a lawyer, veterans, and many educators. The grave markers also indicate membership in specific clubs, and fraternal and civic organizations, especially those grave markers between 1917 and 1988. The markers indicate particular importance on the graves of children, or "innocents." The cemetery is a symbol of local artisanship, and the success of Jackson's postbellum black community.
Collection Name	Southern History Documentary Projects
Subject-LCSH	African American cemeteries -- Tennessee National Register of Historic Places
Subject-TGM	Cemeteries
Type	Still image
Genre	Photograph
Extent	5 x 7 in.
Copyright status	Copyright of the creator. Reproduced with permission
Contributing Institution	Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University
Conditions for use	Credit Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University Reproduction permitted for non-profit educational and research purposes only
Digital Publisher	Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University

Mt. Olivet Cemetery: entrance sign

Description