Abstract
This article examines 19th- and 20th-century Romany grave markers from northern New Jersey. It argues that these exceptional markers served as a way for members of the Romany community to signal their membership in a distinctive ethnic subculture. Since the 19th century, the Romany people, or Gypsies, have found final resting places from their long travels in the cemeteries of northern New Jersey. Unlike many other ethnic groups, the Romany are unseen to all but the most persistent observers. Aside from scattered mentions in newspaper articles of camps, horse trading, fortunetelling, and lavish funerals, they are almost invisible. In the urban cemeteries of northern New Jersey, however, magnificent memorials for “Gypsy” kings and queens provide a glimpse of the rich traditions of this distinctive subculture. Monuments of polished black and red granite ornamented with gilt lettering, etched with photographs, or adorned with enameled portraits proclaim the tenacity and pride of this often-persecuted group. Rather than marking a particular religious ideology or reflecting the position of the Romany people within the society as a whole, these markers reflect the beliefs and accomplishments of a distinctive cultural group and speak to that group’s values, even when those values diverge from those of the larger society.
Resumen
En este artículo se examinan los marcadores de tumbas romaníes de los siglos XIX y XX del norte de Nueva Jersey. Se sostiene que estos marcadores excepcionales sirvieron como una forma para que los miembros de la comunidad romaní señalaran su pertenencia a una subcultura étnica distintiva. Desde el siglo XIX, los romaníes, o gitanos, han encontrado lugares de descanso final después de sus largos viajes en los cementerios del norte de Nueva Jersey. A diferencia de muchos otros grupos étnicos, los romaníes son invisibles para todos, excepto para los observadores más persistentes. Aparte de las menciones dispersas en artículos periodísticos sobre campamentos, comercio de caballos, adivinación y lujosos funerales, son casi invisibles. En los cementerios urbanos del norte de Nueva Jersey, sin embargo, los magníficos monumentos conmemorativos de los reyes y reinas “gitanos” permiten vislumbrar las ricas tradiciones de esta subcultura distintiva. Los monumentos de granito rojo y negro pulido ornamentados con letras doradas, grabados con fotografías o adornados con retratos esmaltados, proclaman la tenacidad y el orgullo de este grupo a menudo perseguido. En lugar de marcar una ideología religiosa en particular o reflejar la posición del pueblo romaní dentro de la sociedad en su conjunto, estos marcadores reflejan las creencias y logros de un grupo cultural distintivo y hablan de los valores de ese grupo, incluso cuando esos valores difieren de los de la sociedad en general.
Résumé
Cet article examine les pierres tombales de Roms datant des 19ème et 20ème siècles dans le nord du New Jersey. Il postule que ces pierres tombales particulières étaient un moyen pour les membres de la communauté Rom d'indiquer leur appartenance à une sous-culture ethnique unique. Depuis le 19ème siècle, après leurs longs périples, les populations Roms ou Gitanes ont choisi pour lieu final de repos les cimetières du nord du New Jersey. Contrairement à beaucoup d'autres groupes ethniques, les Roms sont invisibles pour tous mais demeurent les observateurs les plus tenaces. À part de rares mentions dans des articles de presse évoquant leurs campements, le commerce de chevaux, les diseuses de bonne aventure et les funérailles somptueuses, ils sont presque invisibles. Néanmoins, dans les cimetières urbains du nord du New Jersey des monuments magnifiques en mémoire des rois et reines « Gitans » donnent un aperçu des riches traditions de cette sous-culture unique. Les monuments en granit poli aux couleurs noire et rouge, ornés d'inscriptions dorées et de photographies gravées ou décorés de portraits en émail, affirment la ténacité et la fierté de ce groupe ayant souvent fait l'objet de persécutions. Au lieu d'exprimer une idéologie religieuse particulière ou de rendre compte de la situation du peuple Rom au sein de la société dans son ensemble, ces pierres tombales illustrent les croyances et les accomplissements d'un groupe culturel unique et témoignent des valeurs de ce dernier, même lorsque ces valeurs dérogent à celles de la société plus vaste.
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Notes
Although the term “Romany” is generally seen as preferable to “Gypsy,” in this article the terms “Gypsy” and “Romany” are used interchangeably, reflecting the local vernacular employed by members of this community.
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Acknowledgments:
I sincerely appreciate the assistance shown me by the late Helen Sklar of Chicago; Ed Faulkner of Rosedale/Rosehill Cemetery, Linden; Barbara Novick of Keyport; and Marge Jamieson of Jackson, New Jersey. All of these individuals shared useful information on Gypsies and their burial customs. Preservation planner Linda McTeague shared her considerable knowledge of Evergreen Cemetery. Mark Nonestied and Gary Collison commented on an earlier draft of this article. Minette Church, Benjamin Pykles, and Meta Janowitz provided exceedingly useful editorial comments, and Mihaela Moscaliuc shared her extensive knowledge of Romany culture. This article was inspired by conversations with Bob Schuyler about the archaeology of American ethnicity, cemeteries, grave markers, and the Romany people.
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Veit, R. Forgotten in Life, Celebrated in Death: Romany (Gypsy) Grave Markers from Northern New Jersey. Hist Arch 55, 400–420 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-021-00293-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-021-00293-5