Notebook of Ghosts

To learn more about commonplace books, read my post “A Brief Guide to Keeping a Commonplace Book.”

Maybe you will remember that I began this blog because of my love for keeping a commonplace book, specifically spooky ones. Since I have been devoting my time to writing my book, I have not had the spare time to keep up with my commonplace book. Finally, my full book draft is at the publishers and I can crack open my commonplace book.

I thought I would share my recent entry and provide some research prompts for your own commonplace book.

I have been driving around Indiana taking photos for my book, so I had a plethora of cemetery photos. When I’m in a cemetery, I am always looking for and photographing tree-stump tombstones and memorials made out of zinc. I thought I would take the opportunity to do some research on tree-stump tombstones (zinc ones are next!).

My research came from books in my personal library and the internet. I used scans of books, handwritten notes, text printed from the internet, photos from the internet, and my own personal photos (from my instant film camera). I made sure to cite content for future reference. I also threw in some illustrations and stickers for fun.

I will add more about tree-stump tombstones in the future, because I received this book in the mail today: Tree-Stump Tombstones: A Field Guide to Rustic Funerary Art in Indiana by Susanne S. Ridlen (1999).

Wind (my cat) interrupted my photo.

Cemetery Symbols Research Prompts for Your Commonplace Book

• Pick a type of cemetery motif and research its meaning. Visit your local cemetery and see if you can track down examples. Add photographs or drawings of the tombstones in you book.
• (Or do it the other way around). Visit your local cemeteries and take pictures of your favorite symbols. Research their meanings when you return home.
• Make your own cemetery symbol glossary.
• Research the history of tombstone design. What symbols were popular during different times in history? Who were popular tombstone designers in your state?