It is hoped that these guidelines will promote new enthusiasm for the responsible care and maintenance of the many tombs in need at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, and for other historic above ground cemeteries in the region.

Guidelines for Preservation and Restoration

The St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Guidelines for Preservation and Restoration have been developed for tomb owners, cemetery caretakers, non-profit organization volunteers and professional craftspeople, conservators, and preservation consultants who are interested in the recommended repair, maintenance and restoration of above ground tombs in this and other local cemeteries. It is hoped that these guidelines will promote new enthusiasm for the responsible care and maintenance of the many tombs in need at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, and for other historic above ground cemeteries in the region.

These guidelines are largely based on the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and the related guidelines for preserving, rehabilitating, restoring and reconstructing historic buildings.1 The guidance provided on preservation planning and conservation principles are in accordance with those expressed in the Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS)2 and in the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).3

It is the function of any document of technical guidelines to provide useful information necessary to make better informed decisions. This guide is designed to provide basic planning and technical information about the conservation of above ground tombs. It is important to remember that even the most well intentioned preservation effort can be harmful if incorrect techniques and materials are employed. As much irreparable damage has occurred in the name of restoration, as through years of neglect. The very poor condition of many of these tombs will dictate the need for professional services. These guidelines and the simple lists of “Do’s and Do Not’s” will help orient the novice to the field of tomb preservation, including the type of work required and the selection of qualified conservators and craftworkers. The full document of guidelines can be downloaded as a pdf file. Go There.

1. Kay D. Weeks and Anne E. Grimmer, The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring & Reconstructing Historic Buildings, Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, 1995. More information at http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/tax/rhb/stand.htm

2. Peter Marquis-Kyle and Meredith Walker, The Illustrated Burra Charter: Making good decisions about the care of important places, Sydney, Australia: Australia ICOMOS, 1992.

3. AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice, aic.stanford.edu/pubs/ethics.html. (6/02). More information at http://aic.stanford.edu/pubs/ethics.html