A few weeks ago I received a copy of Kansas City’s Historic Union Cemetery, by Judith King and Bruce Mathews. Not only is the book informative, but also very attractive. I’d call it a “useful” coffee-table book. The pictures, most taken by Bruce Mathews, are fantastic, but so is the content. Judith King and Bruce Mathews, along with many other contributors, have produced what could very well be the best “cemetery book” I’ve ever seen.
Fifty-five thousand people are buried in Union Cemetery. It was established in 1857, and came by it’s name because it was built on 49 acres of land for the burial of folks from both the town of Westport and Kansas (City).
The volume is loaded with historical and biographical information. Together with Mathew’s photography, it’s not only informational, it’s a good read! I found the stories about the people, events, and even cemetery art to be fascinating.
The following is from the Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 – Kansas City’s Oldest Cemetery, by Kevin Fewell
Chapter 2 – Through the Seasons, by Bruce Mathews
Chapter 3 – The Founding of the City, by R. Crosby Kemper III
Chapter 4 – Civl War: A Land Divided, by David W. Jackson
Chapter 5 – Other Wars: Defending Liberty, by John Dillingham
Chapter 6 – That They Not Be Forgotten, by Lynn Mackle
Chapter 7 – Where and How They Lived, by Chris Smart
Chapter 8 – For a Better Community, by Frank McMillan
Chapter 9 – Symbols of Life and Death, by Tom Taylor
Chapter 10 – Legacies, by Bruce Mathews
Chapter 11 – From This Day Forward, by Rachael Blackburn Cozad
Contributing Authors
Bibliography
Index
The volume is sponsored by the Union Cemetery Historical Society, and may be purchased directly from them at 227 East 28th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64108.See: uchskc.org.
It is also available at Amazon.com. See below.
The volume is in hardcover; 228 pages; 11.5 x 10 inches; and published by Kansas City Star Books; 1st edition (2014); ISBN-13: 978-1611691504. Only $29.95.
I also recommend Bruce’s book on Elmwood Cemetery (also in KCMO). My mother bought it for me when she heard Bruce speak to a group that she belongs to. I believe that it’s also autographed.