About 25 people representing church, public and private non-sectarian cemeteries in South Jersey and Pennsylvania attended.

"We hope this will be a gateway event for cemetery restoration so that people who have committed to this work can learn from and help each other," said Linda Shockely, president of the Lawnside Historical Society.

Mount Peace, the largest non-sectarian African-American cemetery in New Jersey, was organized by Camden residents in 1900 to provide a burial place for African-Americans who were denied burial in white cemeteries.

Mr. Schopp detailed the history of the cemetery, its development, decline and resurgence as told in his successful nomination for the State Register of Historic Places. The 11.75-acre cemetery should be added to the National Register soon.

Dr. Montagna shared stories of the successes of Greenwood Cemetery in Tallahassee, the challenges at other locations and the continuing story of the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City.

Ms. Springate, the principal investigator and archaeologist on the Mount Peace Cemetery Needs Assessment, advised attendees to prioritize their site's needs while maintaining flexibility and a sense of possibility. Her talk was followed by a culminating walk-through Mount Peace to look at the issues it presents.

The event was hosted by the Lawnside Historical Society and the Mount Peace Cemetery Association with a grant from the William Short Fund for New Jersey of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, support from the New Jersey Historic Trust and the National Park Service.

The Society is producing a DVD of the workshop which will be shared with other organizations. The documentary, "On Mount Peace," produced through the Scribe Video Center, was offered for sale, proceeds benefit the cemetery association and the historical society.