For a final entry in the series, I’m sharing all the found type I documented on the cemeteries from my recent trip to New Orleans. The type found in the cemeteries covers the gamut of styles: sans serif, serif, shadowed, script, and everything else imaginable. I spent my time in three cemeteries and have kept the found type specimens divided in the same way.
St. Louis Cemetery No.1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans and home to a few famous residents. Because of the historic vandalism and the movie Easy Rider, visitors must be accompanied by a tour guide at all times. This made it tough to take thoughtful shots of the stone typography, but that didn’t stop me from snapping the shutter.
St. Louis Cemetery No.2
The sister lot is just down the street from it’s more famous counterpart. I had more time to take photos, but sadly the variety wasn’t as great. I walked for almost two hours around the three blocks of tombs, the exhaustion could have had something to do with it as well.
Lafayette Cemetery No.1
Located down in the Garden District, I walked around this cemetery the longest of any. The variety of found type on the tombs and headstones was staggering. Trees covering the lot and an overcast sky made for a pleasant afternoon of photographing. There are guides if you need one, but anyone can walk the grounds themselves. Do not miss this beautiful cemetery if you visit New Orleans.
