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What is Pioneers' Cemetery Association?
Pioneers' Cemetery Association (PCA) is a nonprofit organization in Phoenix, Arizona, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and the people buried in Arizona's historic cemeteries. Its stated mission combines conservation of physical remains, grave markers, artifacts, and buildings with public education and community access. PCA is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization.
What PCA does
- Research: Maintains and shares research on pioneer history, including pioneer biographies.
- Preserve: Works to conserve graves, markers, artifacts, and historic buildings at Pioneer & Military Memorial Park.
- Educate: Hosts events such as a Summer Speaker Series and an annual holiday gathering, and publishes news for members and the public.
- Engage the community: Offers membership, a gift shop, volunteer and partner opportunities, and accepts donations.
Where it operates
PCA's work centers on Pioneer & Military Memorial Park in Phoenix. The cemeteries are listed on the National Register of Historic Properties and sit on the La Villa Hohokam site. Because the property falls under the City of Phoenix, anyone considering photography or filming must go through the Phoenix Film Office. PCA does not permit paranormal investigations in the cemeteries, out of respect for the grounds, the people buried there, and their descendants. The associated Smurthwaite House, at 1317 W. Jefferson in Phoenix, hosts events such as the annual holiday party.
Who it is for
The association serves several audiences: descendants of those buried in historic cemeteries, local history and genealogy researchers, Phoenix-area residents interested in Territorial Arizona history, and visitors who want a respectful, accessible historic site. Events are generally open to members, friends, families, and nonmembers.
How to get involved
A practical first step is to decide what you want from the organization. If you are researching an ancestor, start with the pioneer biographies and research sections. If you want to support the work, consider membership or a donation. If you prefer to visit in person, check the calendar for the Summer Speaker Series, the annual holiday party, or other events; the holiday party has been held at Smurthwaite House on a Saturday in November, with no RSVP required for individuals. For group visits or specific questions, PCA asks that you email them in advance.
For broader context on Phoenix history, the city's official site is City of Phoenix, and the state's historical records are maintained by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
What is Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and why is it historically significant?
Pioneer & Military Memorial Park (P&MMP) is a historic cemetery site in Phoenix, Arizona, cared for by the Pioneers' Cemetery Association, a nonprofit with IRS 501(c)(3) status. The association's stated mission is to conserve and protect the park's historic physical remains, grave markers, artifacts, and buildings, and to keep it a safe, accessible community resource. In practice, the site functions as both a burial ground and a place to research and learn about Phoenix and Territorial Arizona history.
Its historical weight comes from several overlapping layers:
- Pioneer-era burials. The grounds represent the people who lived in and shaped early Phoenix and Territorial Arizona, and the association promotes that history through research, education, conservation, and preservation.
- Military memorial function. The name itself signals that military dead are commemorated alongside civilian pioneers, making it a dual-purpose memorial landscape rather than a single-family graveyard.
- National Register status. The cemeteries are listed on the National Register of Historic Properties, a designation that recognizes their architectural, archaeological, or historical value at a national level.
- A deeper Indigenous layer. The site sits on the La Villa Hohokam site, so the land carries significance reaching back long before Phoenix's pioneer period. The association and the City of Phoenix frame their stewardship around respecting the sanctity of the grounds, the people buried there, and their descendants.
That combination is what makes the park unusual: it is not simply an old cemetery but a layered cultural site where Hohokam archaeology, territorial-era settlement, and military commemoration occupy the same ground.
What that means for a visitor or researcher
If you are tracing ancestors, writing local history, or planning a class visit, the park is a primary-source location rather than a monument you merely glance at. The association's own framing emphasizes research, preservation, and education, and it maintains pioneer biographies and preservation information alongside its cemetery records. A practical next step is to check the association's calendar before visiting, since it runs public programming such as a summer speaker series and an annual holiday gathering at the Smurthwaite House, an outdoor event open to members and nonmembers alike.
Two practical cautions are worth knowing. The association does not permit paranormal investigations on the grounds, and anyone considering photography or filming on the historic properties must go through the Phoenix Film Office, because the site operates under the auspices of the City of Phoenix. Both rules reflect the same principle: this is an active memorial ground with living descendants, not a backdrop.
For broader context on Phoenix's historic resources, the City of Phoenix and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office maintain public information on designated historic properties. The association's own site, Pioneers' Cemetery Association, is the most direct source for cemetery records, pioneer biographies, and event dates.
How can I research pioneer biographies or find burial records for someone interred in these cemeteries?
Start with the site's own research tools, then use its contact channels for anything that isn't already published. The Pioneers' Cemetery Association (PCA) is a Phoenix-based nonprofit that maintains Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, the historic Smurthwaite House, and related records, so it is the primary place to look for people buried in these grounds.
What to try first
- Pioneer Biographies: The site has a dedicated biographies section. Start there if you already have a name; it's the fastest route to an existing write-up.
- Research section: Use this for broader context on Phoenix and territorial Arizona history, which often explains who someone was, when they arrived, and why they are buried here.
- Our Cemeteries and Preservation pages: These describe the grounds and physical remains, useful for confirming which cemetery within the park a person is associated with.
- Photos: Gravestone and site photos can help you verify a name, spelling, or date even when a full biography doesn't exist.
If the name isn't listed
The published material won't cover everyone. For burial records, specific grave locations, or questions about someone interred at the park, email the association directly through the contact link on the site. Be ready with the full name, any alternate spellings, approximate death year, and any family details you already know; that gives volunteers the best chance of matching a record.
Practical context
This is a volunteer-run historical association, not a government vital-records office, so responses may take time and the records are not a complete index of every burial. The cemeteries sit on the National Register of Historic Properties and on the La Villa Hohokam site, and PCA states that paranormal investigations are not allowed; research access is oriented toward history and preservation rather than entertainment.
For records held outside this site, Arizona statewide death certificates and cemetery indexes are typically handled by state and county agencies, and the City of Phoenix has a role in the park's oversight. If you want to broaden a search beyond this association, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and City of Phoenix are the official starting points for government-held records and film or photo permissions on the property.
A useful next step: write down everything you know about the person in a single timeline, then check the biographies section for an exact match before emailing the association with that timeline attached.
What events and programs does PCA offer, such as the Summer Speaker Series or Annual Holiday Party?
Pioneers' Cemetery Association (PCA) runs its public programming around two recurring events plus ongoing research and preservation work. The homepage highlights a Summer Speaker Series and an Annual Holiday Party; both are designed as low-barrier ways for members, descendants, and curious neighbors to connect with Phoenix and Territorial Arizona history.
Events named on the site
- Summer Speaker Series — A seasonal series of talks. The site thanks past speakers and attendees and notes that recorded sessions from the live events can still be enjoyed if you missed them. That makes it useful for people who want the content without committing to a specific evening.
- Annual Holiday Party — Held at the Smurthwaite House (1317 W. Jefferson, Phoenix). The posted example ran Saturday, November 21, 10 AM–1 PM, outdoors, with a free holiday ornament activity. It is explicitly open to members, friends, families, and nonmembers, and no RSVP was needed, though groups could email to RSVP. Dress for outdoor weather.
Ongoing programs behind the events
PCA's stated mission is research, preservation, and education at Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and Arizona historic cemeteries. The site organizes that work into sections such as Research, Pioneer Biographies, Preservation, Our Cemeteries, Calendar, News, Photos, and Our Partners. For a reader, these are the practical entry points: biographies if you are tracing a person, preservation and cemetery pages if you want to understand the grounds, and the calendar if you want a dated event rather than a self-guided visit.
Practical next step
If you are deciding whether to attend, use the format as the filter. The Holiday Party is a social, drop-in outdoor gathering at Smurthwaite House, so it suits families and first-time visitors. The Summer Speaker Series is a listening-and-learning format, better for someone who wants historical content and can attend seasonally or watch later. Check the Calendar and News sections for current dates before planning around either one.
Two notes for visitors: PCA does not allow paranormal investigations in the cemeteries, and photography or filming on the historic properties goes through the Phoenix Film Office because the sites fall under City of Phoenix auspices. The cemeteries are on the National Register of Historic Properties and sit on the La Villa Hohokam site, so the association asks visitors to respect the grounds and the descendants of those buried there.
How can I become a member, volunteer, or donate to support cemetery preservation?
The site is the public face of the Pioneers' Cemetery Association (PCA), the nonprofit that conserves Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and the historic Smurthwaite House in Phoenix. Its own framing is "Research – Preserve – Educate," so support usually means joining, giving, or showing up to events rather than doing hands-on grave work yourself.
Ways to get involved
Membership. The navigation includes a Membership page, which is the normal route for joining PCA. Members receive news and event invitations; the annual holiday party is explicitly open to members, friends, families, and nonmembers, so you can meet the group before committing.
Donations. The homepage states PCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and asks visitors to "help preserve history with your donation today." Donations fund conservation of grave markers, artifacts, and buildings. Because the site lists no payment processors, expect to give by check or through whatever method the Membership or donation page describes.
Volunteering. There is no dedicated volunteer sign-up form on the page. Realistically, volunteer roles here are research, photography, event help, and grounds or preservation support. The practical route is to email PCA, say what you can offer, and ask where you're needed.
Events and learning. The Summer Speaker Series and the Annual Holiday Party are the low-commitment entry points—attend, ask questions, then decide about joining.
A concrete next step
Email PCA before you give time or money. State your interest (research, events, preservation), your availability, and whether you'd rather donate than volunteer. That single message reaches the people who actually assign work and can tell you what's needed this season.
One thing to know first
PCA does not permit paranormal investigations at the cemeteries, and photo or film shoots go through the Phoenix Film Office because the property falls under the City of Phoenix. The grounds are on the National Register of Historic Properties and sit on the La Villa Hohokam site, so preservation work is handled with the city and with descendants in mind. If your interest is filming or research access rather than membership, ask about that specifically.
For context on comparable preservation groups, see Pioneers' Cemetery Association and, for Arizona history generally, Arizona Historical Society.
Can I take photos or film at the historic cemeteries, and what are the rules about paranormal investigations?
Photography and filming at the historic cemeteries are permitted only through the City of Phoenix film process, and paranormal investigations are not allowed.
Photography and filming
The Pioneers' Cemetery Association notes that anyone considering photos or filming on its historic properties should refer to the Phoenix Film Office information and application, because the cemeteries operate under the auspices of the City of Phoenix. In practice, that means you should treat a photo or film shoot as a permitted activity rather than something you simply show up and do. A casual visitor taking a few personal snapshots is a different case from a organized shoot with equipment, crew or props; if your plans fall into the latter category, start with the Film Office rather than the cemetery association.
Paranormal investigations
The association states plainly that it does not allow paranormal investigations in the cemeteries at Pioneer & Military Memorial Park. This is not a soft preference. The grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Properties and sit on the La Villa Hohokam site, and the association and the City of Phoenix frame the restriction around respecting the sanctity of the grounds, the people buried there and their descendants. Groups that market ghost-hunting events should not expect access here.
Why the rules are stricter than at a typical cemetery
Two facts explain the tone of the policy. First, the site is a historic property with archaeological sensitivity, so ground disturbance, equipment stakes and after-dark activity carry real risk. Second, it is an active memorial ground with living descendants, which is why the association talks about sanctity rather than just logistics. If your interest is history rather than spectacle, the association's own programming is the better route: it runs a summer speaker series and events such as an annual holiday gathering at the Smurthwaite House, and it publishes research and pioneer biographies.
Practical next step
Decide which category you are in before you contact anyone:
- Personal visit, handheld camera, daytime, no setup: follow normal visiting courtesy and keep markers and grounds undisturbed.
- Organized shoot, tripod rigs, crew, costumes or commercial use: apply through the Phoenix Film Office first.
- Paranormal investigation: not permitted at this site; look for a venue that explicitly allows it.
For questions about the cemeteries themselves, or to ask about group visits and events, use the contact address published on the association's site. To understand who is buried there and the site's history before you visit, the association's research pages are the natural starting point at Pioneers' Cemetery Association.
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