A Plaque for the Emperor (With His Birth Date in Bronze)
On a beautiful if blustery afternoon yesterday in Colma, about 40 friends of Emperor Norton gathered for the laying of a special historical plaque for the Emperor at Home of Peace — the cemetery of Congregation Emanu-El, where the Emperor attended synagogue every Saturday.
The setting for the plaque is fabulous: It now is the centerpiece of an existing circular stone "platform" with an inlaid abalone Star of David, situated in a lovely spot of lawn with a backdrop of tall palms.
The Emperor's Bridge Campaign* is honored to have been able to contribute to the fund for the plaque.
The afternoon, organized independently by our Advisor, Judi Leff, included plaque ceremony comments by Judi; Rabbi Beth Singer, of the Congregation; Joseph Amster (as Emperor Norton); and John Lumea, of the Campaign.
Joe Kaline, of the Sons of Emperor Norton band, sang a lovely ballad of theirs, "Joshua's Hymn." And Rick Saber, who portrays the Emperor for the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, a.k.a. the Clampers, bestowed the traditional Clamper dedication by pouring "the healing waters" (a bottle of beer) over the plaque.
Afterward — indoors! — Peter Moylan presented his "living documentary" of Emperor Norton, featuring Joseph Amster as the Emperor. And John Rothmann offered a wonderful recollection of his participation in the 1979 mock trial by the Court of Historical Review, which found that the Emperor should have been given a Jewish funeral and burial.
Then we ate cake.
A wonderful afternoon! Thank you, Judi, for making it happen!
Well worth noting: This past February, the Campaign made the case for 4 February 1818 as Joshua Norton's birth date (here and here). Judi was a key participant in our research project on that question; and her discovery of a supporting circumcision record provided important confirmation of the date to which a significant body of other evidence already was pointing.
The plaque features 4 February 1818 as the birth date for Joshua Norton — almost certainly the first permanent memorial to do so.
A final footnote: Some fittings are required in order to make the plaque truly permanent (read: theftproof). So, if you drive to Colma today, you won't find the plaque. Watch this space for notice that it's there for all to see.
* In December 2019, The Emperor's Bridge Campaign adopted a new name: The Emperor Norton Trust.
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