Cemeteries provide a
valuable, tangible link with the past, and often offer
an opportunity to gather data that in many cases can be
found nowhere else.
If you plan a visit to an
ancestral cemetery on your own, or with a single
research companion, there’s no need to make special
arrangements. However, if you plan to make it part of a
family reunion itinerary, it’s a good idea to schedule
excursions to active cemeteries for the early morning
hours, from 8:00 to 11:00am, to avoid any services that
may be held. Check the day before your trip with the
cemetery office or caretaker just to be certain, and
allow at least one and a half to two hours for your
cemetery visit. For older, inactive cemeteries, secure
permission from the cemetery authority if possible.
Upon arrival at the cemetery, take a few moments to
orient your group, especially young children and teens,
reminding all to show proper respect for the dead and
practice appropriate cemetery etiquette. Younger
children should be supervised while on cemetery grounds.
Cemeteries offer plenty of activity for family members
of all ages. Allow time for generations to wander the
gravestones together: For older relations, gravestone
inscriptions can supply sparks of inspiration, kindling
long-forgotten memories. Out-of-town visitors may wish
to research the family in old church records, so be sure
to schedule this with cemetery authorities in advance.
You may even want to recruit your clan to clean up the
ancestral plots. And everyone, young and old, will enjoy
making gravestone rubbings to take home as a keepsake of
their trip. (See “How to Make a Gravestone Rubbing”
below.)
If you aren’t sure where your ancestors are buried, a
cemetery directory, such as Cemeteries of the U.S.: A
Guide to Contact Information for U.S. Cemeteries and
Their Records can assist you in determining which
cemeteries are in the area of your ancestors’ last
residence. Once the burial site has been located, the
cemetery, if still in existence, can be contacted to
schedule a visit and request copies of burial records.
And when gathering data at the cemetery, be sure to
record accurate source information for future
researchers.
How to Make a Gravestone Rubbing*
You will need:
• Tracing Paper or Freezer Paper (works well even if
stones are damp or wet), or Acid-free Vellum(for
archival-quality rubbings)
• Thick dark-colored crayons with the labels removed
• Soft bristle brush
• Small spray bottle of water
• Hand towel
• Partner
• Cardboard tube – for storing paper and finished
rubbings
Procedure:
Select a solid gravestone and gently clean dirt and
debris from the face using a soft bristle brush, and
water if necessary. Have your partner hold the paper
over the gravestone. (If using freezer paper, put the
shiny side down.) With the flat side of the crayon, rub
the entire area using gentle, even strokes. Before
removing the paper, step back and check to see if you
have completely rubbed all areas. When finished, it is a
good idea to note somewhere on the rubbing where it was
taken. Roll your paper up carefully so you don't crease
it or smudge the tracing.
* Always gain permission to do rubbings before you
begin. Do not do rubbings on thin or unstable stones.
Carelessness can cause damage to gravestones, and for
this reason, some cemeteries do not permit gravestone
rubbing.
Written by Renee Huskey, of Photoloom LLC, creators of
Family Photoloom. Family Photoloom is a ground-breaking
online family photo-history service that provides the
tools you need to organize your photos, stories and
other files around your genealogy, and create truly
seamless family history. Please visit www.photoloom.com
to learn more.