Websites

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The Collective for Radical Death Studies (CRDS)
https://radicaldeathstudies.com/
#Death studies, Decolonization, Academic

“Our mission is to interrogate the field of Death Studies to decolonize and de-center whiteness while calling to radicalize death practices, all in theory and in practice from a variety of angles, i.e. our research, writing, community work, and professional careers.”
-Mission Statement from CRDS About Page

New York City Cemetery Project
https://nycemetery.wordpress.com/
#New York City, Cemetery history, Blogs

“This project, and this site, is the work of Mary French, an anthropologist and museum & archives professional who has been exploring and researching the city’s cemeteries since moving to NYC in 2006. The project has collected information for about 350 cemeteries that is gradually added to this site, intended as a resource for researchers, genealogists, urban explorers, and other curious-minded folk. The site offers historical profiles of cemeteries still in the city today as well as those lost to time, tracks news about the city’s cemeteries, and offers links to relevant resources.”
-New York City Cemetery Project About Page

The Cemeteries of New York City
https://www.cemeteriesofnyc.com/
#New York City, Cemetery history, Maps

“This cemetery map was created by Elizabeth D. Meade, PhD, as part of a doctoral dissertation in the Anthropology Department of the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Meade’s research involved an archaeological survey of the historic period cemeteries of New York City. The dissertation documents the history of human burials in New York City between the 17th century and the present.”
-The Cemeteries of New York City About Page

Black Cat Cemetery Preservation https://blackcatcemeterypreservation.wordpress.com/
#Archaeology, Restoration, Cleaning, Preservation

“Black Cat Cemetery Preservation specialises in historic gravestone and monument conservation and restoration in Canada. […] These services are offered by husband & wife team, Robyn Lacy and Ian Petty. Together, [they] have a combined 20 years of experience in the heritage sector as archaeologists, gravestone conservators, and cultural heritage technicians.”
-Black Cat Cemetery Preservation Services Page

Robyn and Ian offer workshops, consultations, restorations, recording and mapping, clean-up, and research and reporting services; all of which are informed by and utilize a “Do No Harm” approach.

Discovering England’s Burial Spaces
http://www.debs.ac.uk/recording.html
#Preservation, Archives, England

“Discovering England’s Burial Spaces (DEBS) was a Historic England funded project based at the University of York and the Archaeology Data Service. We worked with community groups to design and test resources that will help people to record burial spaces like churchyards and cemeteries. These resources introduce a new standardised methodology for surveying, meaning that datasets from different surveys can be compared with one another to reveal trends and patterns in the history commemoration. We also created a system for digitally archiving survey results. The Burial Space Research Database enables groups conducting research into burial spaces to safeguard their research in perpetuity and share findings freely with the general public and other researchers.”
-DEBS Home Page

The Order of the Good Death
https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/
#Death education, Green burials, Environmental, Death positive

“In an effort to counteract a broken death care system that often centers profits instead of people, we’ve created a wide array of resources that seek to humanize death instead of exploiting it, or causing further harm to both people and planet.
We have put together toolkits to guide you through hard subjects like talking about death, planning for your death or the death of a loved one (including your pets), and to help you navigate death legislation (like fetal burial laws).”
-The Order’s About/Our Work Page

National Home Funeral Alliance
https://www.homefuneralalliance.org/
#Funerals, Death care, Mourning, Memorials

“The National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA) is a nonprofit membership organization committed to reconnecting to our heritage, educating individuals, families and communities, empowering families, and encouraging those who further the practice of home funerals.
Until the 19th century, funerals were family, church, and community affairs. The family washed and laid out the body, dressed or draped it, and ordered the coffin from the local carpenter or made it themselves. It was the family who carried the coffin from home to the graveyard, often digging the grave as well. Despite the rise in professional death care, it is and has always been legal in every state and province for families to care for loved ones at home from death until final disposition.”
-NHFA About/Home Funeral Fact Sheet Page 

Green Burial Council
https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/
#Green burials, Environmental, Death Positive, Funerals

“[The Green Burial Council] is the place to learn more about green burial and how to find certified cemetery stewards, funeral professionals, and funerary product sellers who share the commitment to create more sustainable after-death options for you, your community, and the planet.”
-GBC Home Page

Resources include publications, certifications, collaborative events, lectures, and more.

Recompose
https://recompose.life/
#Natural organic reduction, Human composting, Death care

“Recompose is a licensed green funeral home offering human composting to transform your loved one’s body into soil.”
-Recompose Death Care/ Our Services Page

Based in Kent, Washington, Recompose offers green burial services in the form of natural organic reduction. “The deceased is laid in a vessel along with other natural materials which aid in the process of decomposition. After 30 days, the new soil amendment is removed and allowed to cure for two to six weeks.” Recompose’s website more fully describes the process, their services, personal guidance, and many more resources for the curious and inspired.

Allison C. Meier
https://allisoncmeier.com/
#New York City, Cemeteries, History

“Allison C. Meier is an Oklahoma-born, Brooklyn-based writer focused on visual culture, architecture, and overlooked history: I believe in writing about the arts and heritage of our world in an accessible, engaging way. Previously, I was a staff writer at Hyperallergic and the senior editor at Atlas Obscura.
I moonlight as a cemetery tour guide at New York burial grounds and I am a licensed New York City sightseeing guide. I’m on a mission to see all the city’s Greatest Trees.”
-Allison C. Meier About Page

Books

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Articles

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Podcasts

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This podcast is a recording of the lectures by Dr. Shelly Kagan. His book listed above is an extension of this course.