Maps Showing Cemeteries

When I go into a courthouse I go into the Tax Assessor's office and purchase a DOT map of the county. I then take a red ink pen and circle the cemetery signs on the entire map, so when I am able to visit an area where I know my ancestors lived, I can follow the rural roads directly to the cemeteries that I want to search. I know from experience that in GA those maps I purchased in 1970s had the cemeteries identified, but a more recent one for Bibb Co., GA does not show the cemetery symbol. I wish that they would continue these markings on the maps for those of us trying to locate our loved ones so long ago passed on before us.

Naomi Buckner

Editor's Note: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System can be searched for cemeteries by county. Just pick a state, enter the county, and under "Feature Type" choose "cemetery" at: geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.gnis_web_query_form

The list of cemeteries in the database shows the town or city that each cemetery is located in, and by clicking on a particular cemetery, you can get the exact location. Maps, and sometimes aerial photographs, can also be brought up and zoomed in on.

Remarks on Tape

When I search a cemetery, instead of pen and paper I take a tape recorder, as this keeps me from reversing dates and numbers. I talk about the area surrounding the cemetery, any descriptions on the tombstones, the condition of the cemetery, what type of graves, and whether it has military, or religious stones. This all goes in my notes for a book I'm starting.

Geneva Shay

Check with the Office

Family members may be interred in crypts, rather than individual plots. Whichever the case--rather than being content to merely transcribe what is written--inquire of the cemetery management and find the current holder of the burial rights, and you may find a living "cousin" or someone else who would have information on those within, as well as living descendants.

Vincent E. Summers

Aluminum Foil as a Reflector

When I go to the cemeteries to read stones, I carry a small roll of aluminum foil. Just cut off a square of the foil to use as a reflector and it will be much easier than taking a mirror, with no fear of breakage. It is also easy to take the foil back home with you by re-rolling or folding and putting the foil back in a purse or pocket.

Thomas Press

Slide Film Ideal for Taking Gravestone Pictures

I have visited several cemeteries with a large number of my family and related family graves leading to severe record collecting problems due to time. I have found in the case of gravestones that are in good readable condition that the use of a camera with SLIDE film becomes an ideal record taker. It has the capability of easy enlargement to full size and the ability to not make mistakes in dates and names. In many cases I take few if any notes. Even in the case of stones in poor condition, care in the selection of view angle can often result in a satisfactory image. Notes, of course, should be taken under these conditions. A second disposable camera can of course be taken along to provide general pictures.

Woody Walker
North Caldwell, NJ

Don't Rely Solely on Transcriptions

Years ago I checked a transcription of a cemetery where my great-great- great-grandmother was buried. She was there. Several of her children and husbands were there, but my great-great-great-grandfather was not. There was an Andrew Males who died in 1887 after living 41 years. For years I wondered who he was. A son I wasn't aware of? Then I went to the cemetery when I was on vacation in the area and took pictures of the tombstones. I was in a rush so I took pictures, but didn't look closely at the stones. When I got home (500 miles away) I realized that this Andrew Males hadn't died in 1887, but in 1847. He was the great- great-great-grandfather that I was looking for.

Wanda

Side Lighting for Hard to Read Stones

Another thought for making worn tombstone lettering more legible is to place the flash at an angle to the stone, i.e., forty-five degrees or more. This side lighting scheme creates deep shadows in the depressions, and is the method used by photographers to sculpt with shadows. The only problem is that it does require a flash unit that can be removed from the camera and placed where you want it. This is similar to moving the flash off the camera to avoid red eye. If you do this often, such flash units are inexpensive and very much worth the effort.

Doug Nowlin

Just Do It

My pet project is recording cemeteries. Any cemetery, whether I have relatives buried there or not. This is a very important project that one's club or organization can undertake. Even a group of friends or neighbors can tackle this rewarding task. I know because I have done it. I have recorded two, one quite large, and a smaller one, but I was instrumental in having one restored and recorded in the middle of a cornfield in Ohio.

The reason for this passion is because, in my 80 years (so very short in the history of things) I have seen six cemeteries totally disappear, and no one seemed to care. So, go out today and record a cemetery, anywhere. Then see that those records are placed in a nearby library or historical society.

Carol Dickey