New Orleans Cemeteries WPA Cemetery Index While there is no comprehensive index to all of the cemeteries in New Orleans, perhaps the most useful starting place to find a place of interment is an index created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. The project consisted of indexing the records and/or the tomb inscriptions for about 25 cemeteries. Note: This index is frequently referred to as a “Tombstone Index,” but in fact, most of the data in the index came from cemetery records, generally from the beginning of the records for each cemetery. Cards with "SUP" at the bottom of the card indicate that the information came from records, and not tomb inscriptions. The original index was created on index cards. The cards are now housed at the Louisiana State Museum in the historic U. S. Mint at 400 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. See: Historical Center of the Louisiana State Museum.  In about 1980, the cards were microfilmed by FamilySearch and can be searched online. See: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/4234528 Background information: The City Archives at the NOPL has information about the microfilmed index here: https://nolacityarchives.org/guide-to-genealogical-materials/burial-records/tombstone-index/ Below is a list of the cemeteries in the WPA Cemetery Index and notes on each. The microfilm numbers (GS36 266-308) are those of the NOPL. The cemetery names are given as listed on the NOPL microfilms, and the list is organized in the order of the microfilm numbers at the NOPL. Note: Entries on many cards includes the additional entry of “SUP.” It has been determined that these entries came from records, rather than tomb inscriptions. The “SUP” may be an abbreviation for “supplied,” meaning the data came from records and not from inscriptions. GS36 266-268 Firemens Cypress Grove #1 Cemetery, 1825-1934 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). GS36 268-273 Girod Street [Protestant] Cemetery, 1817-1930 [No longer exists.] Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). GS36 273-277 Greenwood - Cypress Grove No. 2, 1840-1880 Only from interment records (all indicated with SUP). GS36 277 Hebrew Cemetery (at Canal & N. Anthony), 1846-1933 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). Hebrew Cemetery (at Canal & S. Anthony), 1846-1933 (Gates of Prayer #2) Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). Hebrew Cemetery (at Frenchmen & Gentilly), 1866-1880 (Hebrew Rest #2) Only from interment records (all indicated with SUP). Hebrew Cemetery (at Joseph & Garfield), Gates of Prayer #1, 1856-1930 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). Hebrew Cemetery (at Gentilly & Elysian Fields) (Hebrew Rest #1) Note: Dates not given; appears to be 1860s-70s. Appears to be all supplied from records. Hebrew Cemetery at Jackson & Saratoga Sts., Gates of Mercy Note: Dates not given; appears to be 1850s into 1900s. Primarily inscriptions, with some data supplied from records. GS36 278 Holt Cemetery, 1876-1879 Only from interment records (all indicated with SUP). GS36 279-286 Lafayette Cemetery, 1844-1933 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). Note: Combines inscriptions and records from Lafayette No. 1 and No. 2. GS36 286 Masonic Lodge Cemetery, 1868-1944 All data appears to be supplied from records (indicated with SUP). Note: The records appear to be primarily from the 1860s-70s; the 1944 date is unexplained. GS36 286 Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery, 1849-1880 Only from interment records (all indicated with SUP). GS36 287 Protestant Cemetery, 1847 Only from interment records (no SUP, but obviously from records). Note: Most--if not all--of the about 30 deaths were from yellow fever. GS36 287 St. John Cemetery, 1867-1880 Only from interment records (all indicated with SUP). GS36 287-289 St. Joseph Cemetery, 1805-1930 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). GS36 290-295 St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, 1770-1935 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). GS36 295-299 St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, 1770-1935 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (indicated with SUP). GS36 299-302 St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, 1770-1935 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records (no SUP, but obviously from records). GS36 302 St. Bernard Cemetery, 1850-1868 Only from inscriptions; 15 cards. GS36 302 Charity Hospital, 1847 Only from interment records; all or most died from yellow fever. GS36 302-305 St. Patrick Cemetery, 1847-1935 Combines tomb inscriptions and interment records, though most appear to be from records. GS36 305 St. Roch No. 2 Cemetery, 1890-1935 Only from inscriptions; at the end there are cards for the Negro Section. GS36 305-308 St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery, 1847-1935 Combines inscriptions and records from St. Vincent de Paul Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Note: The daily interment records of St. Vincent de Paul have a significant gap between 2 Jun 1855 and 25 Jun 1883 because of a fire that destroyed the daybook. Please report errors or make suggested additions to Norm Hellmers (norm.hellmers @ gmail.com) Return to previous page