The emergence of the American landscape professional: John Notman and the design of rural cemeteries

John Notman (1810-1865) was a Philadelphia architect whose designs for rural cemeteries from the mid 1830s to the early 1850s provided an entry for American architects into the increasing opportunities in landscape design. As a consequence he infused landscape gardening with the greater professionalism of the architectural community. Indeed, his first major commission was for the ground plan and entrance gate to Laurel Hill Cemetery (1835), north of Philadelphia. The success of this venture led to other projects for rural cemeteries, country estates and public parks. While remaining primarily an architect, Notman moves easily into the realm of a landscape gardener, the contemporary name for the designer of landscapes.