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Rest in Pieces: Philadelphia's Lost Cemeteries | Wed., Oct. 29, 4-7 p.m. (lecture, 5:30 p.m.), free, Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W. Montgomery Ave., 215-763-6529, wagnerfreeinstitute.org

A true taphophile from the start, Thomas Keels grew up with a cemetery in his backyard, sparking a lifetime of interest in the architecture of Philly's historic final resting places. In the spirit of his 2003 book, Philadelphia's Graveyards and Cemeteries, the local writer and historian will focus his upcoming lecture on the visual history of the city's various burial grounds, including the vanished graveyards of North Philly.

While researching his book, Keels discovered a number of haunting tales. "I uncovered information about the hundreds of cemeteries that had been lost over the past three centuries — victims of development, changing residential patterns and, in some cases, good old political corruption," he says. According to Keels, many of the city's resting places have been converted into playgrounds and parking lots, while others have been lost altogether due to a lack of upkeep and overall neglect.

Part of the Wagner's evening lecture series, Keels' talk and Q&A session will cover the fate of these monumental yet forgotten grave sites, giving voice to the lost narratives of our city's not-so-dearly departed.