A while back, my husband and I went to Kansas to search for the graves of some of his relatives. When we got to the cemetery, we found that we had a hard time reading the headstones. The only thing we had with us was a spray bottle of water and a camera. We cleaned off the headstone as best we could. It was very hot and muggy that day, and we noticed that as we sprayed the headstone with water, it took longer for the indentations of the letters to dry than the rest of the stone and we could read what they said. My husband got ready with his camera, and I sprayed the stone; before it could dry, my husband took a picture. The pictures turned out great, and you could really read the stone. We tried this many times, and it worked every time. Maybe it will work for others.

Madrean Benton

One very simple tip concerning photographing headstones is to take the photographs in the morning. Daylight is at its best, and the shadows are perfect then.

Ruth Padilla

I would like to share my cemetery tips.

(1) Please remember that many old cemeteries had wells for the convenience of those decorating graves on Memorial Day because in days past, real plants and flowers were used. While researching a very old cemetery, and in my excitement of even finding it, I forgot all about the dos and don'ts. My husband grabbed me just before I stepped into an old, abandoned well. I could not find the caretaker, if there was one, so I went to the nearest library. The librarian said the county trustees were in charge of the upkeep of the cemeteries, so I reported it at the county courthouse.

(2) Do not go alone when researching cemeteries.

(3) I use a large piece of plain, white paper to cover inscriptions that are difficult to read and rub a large, black crayon lengthwise across them. It has never failed; nothing is left on the tombstone, and I get the information I need.

(4) I ask the record keeper of the cemetery I am researching to put my name, address, phone number, and relationship to the deceased on the back of the cemetery record card. If that cannot be done, I leave a card to attach with the same information. I have been absolutely amazed at the results and have renewed connections with family.

(5) While visiting one ancestor's gravesite, I noticed that it always seemed to have flowers on Memorial Day. This was a mystery to me. So, I had a card laminated with my name and contact information on it, as well as a note for other relatives to please contact me. Two weeks before Memorial Day, I left it by the tombstone. Two days after Memorial Day, I received a letter from a relative who lived within a short driving distance of our home. We put our research together and went back several generations!

Kathleen Kelley

Editor's Note: When taking a tombstone rubbing, be sure to check with the cemetery office to make sure it is allowed. If the stone sounds hollow or is cracked, deteriorating, or unstable, you may damage or even completely destroy the stone with even the gentlest of pressure. See the Association of Gravestone Studies' list of "Some Gravestone Rubbings Dos and Don'ts" for more information.