Remembering Historical Jewish Graceland Cemetery in Chicago

Why would anyone be interested in a cemetery whose first burial was in 1851 and where there have not been many recent burials? For Jewish genealogists, Jewish Graceland is a treasure of Jewish heritage. It documents members of the earliest Jewish community that helped build Chicago.

To preserve this heritage and the memory of these pioneers, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI) has recently completed an inventory of all the burials Graceland Cemetery and is in the process of making this list available via the Internet to the worldwide Jewish community. This service is being made possible via the website JewishGen.

JGSI is also sponsoring a tour of the cemetery on May 21.

You can read more about this project at http://www.juf.org/news_public_affairs/article.asp?key=7023

Comments

[Helen Shaw]

This is a wonderful project. Congratulations to all who have a part in it.

When I put together my talk on Chicago's Ethnic Cemeteries (presented at NGS in Milwaukee) there was a very real threat that parts of Jewish Graceland might be developed for housing. I hope this project means the cemetery is no longer threatened.

I have photos of many monuments in the cemetery as well as views from the roof of the senior home across the street. I would be happy to provide copies to the project.