Fwd from the ASNJ list:

THE ASSOCIATION FOR GRAVESTONE STUDIES
2012 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey

Gravestone enthusiasts and researchers from around the nation and the world will be gathering at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey for the 35th Annual Association for Gravestone Studies Conference, June 19 – 24

The Association for Gravestone Studies, based in Greenfield, Massachusetts, is an organization of approximately 1000 members. Its mission is to further the study and preservation of gravestones. More information about the organization is available online at www.gravestonestudies.org.

The week-long conference will feature classroom sessions on gravestone rubbing, photography, and foil impressions, and lectures from scholars from diverse backgrounds including history, art history, archaeology, and anthropology. There will also be a workshop in a historic graveyard demonstrating proper gravestone conservation techniques. Highlights of the conference will also include cemetery tours featuring New Jersey’s colonial, Victorian and cultural diverse historic burial grounds.

Evening lectures will be presented by international researchers and scholars. The lecture topics include stone carvers, gravestone art, cemetery history, and the cultural significance of gravestones.

Members of the public and researchers in all related fields are welcome to participate in the conference by registering in advance at http://www.gravestonestudies.org/conferences.htm. Members of the public may register to attend the entire conference or certain days, only. Attendance of evening lectures is free of charge.

Proposals are also being solicited for scholarly papers, 20 minutes in length, to be presented during the evening and daytime lecture sessions. Please send your proposal and a 250- word abstract by February 1, 2012, to Lecture Programs Coordinators: Richard Veit, rveit@monmouth.edu and Mark Nonestied, mn1908@aol.com

Proposals are solicited for Participation/Class Sessions, of 50 minutes in length, to be presented Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22. Please send your proposal and a 250-word abstract by February 1, 2012 to Participation/Class Sessions Coordinators, Robert Keeler robertk@clackamas.edu, and Judy Juntunen, rycraftjuntunen@aol.com

For further information please contact AGS at (413) 772-0836, info@gravestonestuies.org<mailto:info@gravestonestuies.org>, Richard Veit rveit@monmouth.edu<mailto:rveit@monmouth.edu> or Mark Nonestied mn1908@aol.com