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.