The Fort Worth Cemetery Association was established January 29, 1931. Its founding directors were C.A. Boaz, W.P. Boaz, E.O. Boaz, L.B. Comer and Jessie Boaz Gumm. That same year, they purchased land and platted Peoples Burial Park, located at the corner of Northeast 28th Street and North Beach Street, Haltom City, Texas. Peoples Burial Park was developed adjacent to two other African-American cemeteries, Fretwell Cemetery (1889) and New Trinity Cemetery (1920s). The three cemeteries are collectively referred to as New Trinity Cemetery.
In 1947, the Boaz family interests in the Fort Worth Cemetery Association were sold to J.N. Baker, Mrs. Marie A. Lee and Harold B Baker. At that time, the Fort Worth Cemetery Association wrote letters to the Pinkston-DeBose Funeral Home, the Davis Funeral Home and Browne-Hardee Undertaking Co., all of Fort Worth, Texas, thanking them for their business. In 1985, the Texas Historical Commission placed a marker commemorating the history of the three cemeteries.
The Fort Worth Cemetery Association Records are comprised of its charter, by-laws, and directors’ and stockholders’ minutes. Burial plot sales records list the name of the purchaser, the date of purchase and the purchase price. Some also record the name of the deceased and the plot location. The correspondence includes letters addressed to three Fort Worth, Texas, funeral homes who conducted business with the Fort Worth Cemetery Association, thanking them for their business. Financial records include an audit report, tax return and other miscellaneous records. Land documents detail the acquisition and growth of Peoples Burial Park. Those interested in African-American history and genealogy in Tarrant County will find these records valuable.
Open for research.
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Arranged alphabetically by document type, then chronologically thereunder
The Fort Worth Cemetery Association Records were in the possession of Albert Peters until they were donated to The University of Texas at Arlington Library Special Collections, on July 2, 2008. The donation of the materials was negotiated and accessioned by Brenda McClurkin, Special Collections Historical Manuscripts Archivist.
Gift,
Accessioned as 2008-38.
Fort Worth Cemetery Association Records, GA218, Folder Number, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library.
The Fort Worth Cemetery Association Records were processed and finding aid prepared by Margaret Knox-Kruschke.
These materials are indexed under the following headings in the catalog of The University of Texas at Arlington Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
All records contain the name of the purchaser, date of purchase and amount paid for the burial plot. Some contain the name of the deceased and location of the burial plot.
Letters written to Browne-Hardee Undertaking Co., Pinkston-DuBose Funeral Home and Davis Funeral Home, all of Fort Worth, Texas, thanking them for their business.
Receipt bearing State of Texas stock transfer tax stamps, lists of stockholders and financial reports.
Warranty deeds, bill of sale, receipts, and an agreement on building setbacks.
Capital stock tax and franchise tax returns.