Welcome to Pioneers' Cemetery Association
RESEARCH - PRESERVE - EDUCATE
About Phoenix & Territorial Arizona History
About Phoenix & Territorial Arizona History
The Mission of the Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is to conserve and protect the historic physical remains, grave markers, artifacts, and buildings of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and provide a safe, accessible community resource for present and future generations; to acknowledge, celebrate, and promote Arizona's Pioneer History, represented by those interred in Arizona historic cemeteries, through research, education, conservation, preservation, and community engagement.
The Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
The Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
Our historic cemeteries are open by appointment on Thursdays 10 AM - 2 PM for self-guided tours.
Tours of historic Smurthwaite House are available on Thursdays 10 AM - 2 PM by appointment only.
Please contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com for arrangements.
Volunteers are not available every Thursday in the summer -
please plan ahead!
Memorial Day 2022
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Our thanks to the DeMolay and volunteers for helping us prepare our historic cemeteries for Memorial Day. Thanks to all who stopped by to pay their respects to our interred!
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Thank You, American Association of
State and Local History!
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The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has notified us that Pioneers’ Cemetery Association has received an Award of Excellence for our project highlighting Women and Children of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park. "The Award of Excellence is part of the AASLH Leadership in History Awards, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation of state and local history." See more of the notice in the attached photo. We are so proud of all our volunteers and the hard work they do to preserve history.
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NEW Walking Tour Brochures Available
Our thanks to Arizona Humanities for a 2021 grant enabling us to create a number of walking tour brochures to share more stories of our Arizona history! Shown is one side of one brochure Pioneers' Cemetery Association is making available to the public. You may download these as pdfs to read the brief stories of our interred, share with loved ones as you do family research, or print to have ready for your own self-guided tour of our historic cemeteries! You can find all of our available brochures on Our Cemeteries page.
Learn more about our grave marker preservation here, with our thanks to Cronkite News and Sam Chow, aired February 17, 2022.
Thank You, Maricopa & Piestewa Peak DAR!
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For the 5th year, members of Piestewa Peak and Maricopa Chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) cleaned the grounds of the Smurthwaite House and historic Pioneer & Military Memorial Cemeteries. This annual collaborative service project between DAR chapters took place on Saturday, March 12, 2022.
Maricopa Chapter is the oldest DAR chapter in Arizona, established in 1901. One of the residents of the Smurthwaite house, built in 1897, was Mrs. Carolann Smurthwaite who joined the Maricopa DAR Chapter in 1921. Piestewa Peak Chapter is the newest of Arizona’s 41 active DAR chapters and was chartered on October 8, 2016. The chapter is named after Piestewa Peak, the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountains. The Peak was named for Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa, a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Soldier and member of the Hopi Tribe in northeastern Arizona, who was killed in Iraq on March 23, 2003. |
Grave Marker Preservation Thanks You for Your Support of Our Dia de Los Muertos Event!
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Thanks to all who attended to paint a pot or a doll while learning traditions that are part of Dia de Los Muertos! Everyone had a ton of fun! Thanks to volunteers Cindy Lee and Debe Branning for leading this project that supports Pioneers' Cemetery Association's grave marker preservation projects.
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Buffalo Soldier Plaque Dedication
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A dedication of the Buffalo Solider Plaque at Porter Cemetery occurred on Memorial Day, presented by the Buffalo Soldiers of America, Arizona Chapter. Buffalo Soldier Clarence Proctor is buried in our cemeteries.
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Memorial Day Remembrance 2020
Thank you, Cactus Wren Chapter, NSDAR!
PCA is very excited to announce we were awarded a preservation grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The grant is sponsored by Cactus Wren Chapter, NSDAR of Chandler and will be used for grave marker preservation in our cemeteries. Thank you to Kandy Wagenbach, Gera King, W. Jobeth Fjell, and Jenn Shaffer Merry for your help!
Thank You, Arizona Humanities!
We are excited to announce that PCA received a grant from Arizona Humanities to create new tour brochures and programs focusing on the history of our women and children buried at P&MMP. We will also be able to make repairs to several of the grave markers pertaining to women and children. Why just this select group? This year is the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote and March is women's history month. Our researchers will be hard at work writing more biographies and creating new stories. We hope you enjoy these stories about Martha Beatty, "Pioneer Educator," and 6 year old Willie Meade, both interred at our historic cemeteries.
Click to watch Martha Beatty's story.
Click to watch little Willie Meade's story.
Click to watch Martha Beatty's story.
Click to watch little Willie Meade's story.
Blog Featuring Pioneer Cemetery Stories
Be sure to check out a new blog, Behind the Epitaph, provided by PCA volunteers and researchers! You'll find stories about our more colorful characters interred at the Pioneer & Military Memorial Cemeteries. You can "subscribe" to the blog posts to receive updates by providing your email on the right side bar of their blog.
Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram!
Join our team as we share short video stories about some of early Arizona pioneers! "Like" or "Follow" us on our social media sites by clicking the icons below! And you can ALWAYS send us email at pioneercem@yahoo.com - it's the best and fastest way to reach us! (click the envelope)
Preserving Sotelo-Heard Cemetery
Our many thanks to reporter John D'Anna of the Arizona Republic for his time, research, and sensitive story featuring a forgotten "Mexican cemetery" in south Phoenix - Sotelo-Heard Cemetery. Enjoy the story in its entirety here. A list of those buried is included at the very end of the story if you're looking for the possibility of tracing your own heritage here. Thanks to John for his updated article of January 11, 2020 here.
Our thanks to Monica Garcia of 12News for her interview with Frank Barrios November 1! The video report can be found here.
Many thanks to Cronkite News and Brittany Watson for her interview with Frank Barrios November 21. The story can be found here.
Pioneers' Cemetery Association is available as a community resource to those seeking to preserve historic cemeteries, aid in research of family genealogy particularly for those connected with our early Arizona burials, and education about early Arizona history by sharing the stories of those who were here before us.
You can contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com with questions or comments. You are encouraged to become a Friend of PCA by either becoming a member or subscribing to our news. Donations to continue our efforts to preserve history are gratefully accepted.
Our thanks to Monica Garcia of 12News for her interview with Frank Barrios November 1! The video report can be found here.
Many thanks to Cronkite News and Brittany Watson for her interview with Frank Barrios November 21. The story can be found here.
Pioneers' Cemetery Association is available as a community resource to those seeking to preserve historic cemeteries, aid in research of family genealogy particularly for those connected with our early Arizona burials, and education about early Arizona history by sharing the stories of those who were here before us.
You can contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com with questions or comments. You are encouraged to become a Friend of PCA by either becoming a member or subscribing to our news. Donations to continue our efforts to preserve history are gratefully accepted.
Smurthwaite House Video
Many thanks to City of Phoenix's Nathalie Gage as well as Pioneers' Cemetery Association's own Judy Smith and Vivia Strang for their time and talents!
Location & HoursSmurthwaite House and the cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park are open to the public every THURSDAY from 10 AM - 2 PM, on the fourth Saturday of the month September through May at scheduled times, and for special events as posted. The facilities are supervised by an all-volunteer team. Your cooperation to coordinate your activity at available times is greatly appreciated.
Mailing Address Pioneers' Cemetery Association P.O. Box 33192 Phoenix, AZ 85067 Smurthwaite House & P&MMP 1317 W. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85007 pioneercem@yahoo.com THURSDAYS ONLY - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY BEGINNING JANUARY 2021 - Contact pioneercem@yahoo.com for details 10 AM-2 PM |
Pioneers' Cemetery Association - Phoenix, Arizona
Copyright © 2017 Website last updated June 19, 2022
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All Rights Reserved.