Cemetery and Archiving Research Resources
Cemetery and Archiving Research Resources
Cemetery Work
Cemetery Work
Cemeteries hold a wealth of historical and in some cases personal information. Here's how to begin:
Cemeteries hold a wealth of historical and in some cases personal information. Here's how to begin:
1. Choose Your Focus
1. Choose Your Focus
Family History: Start with a known name or family plot.
Community Documentation: Survey local or neglected cemeteries.
Thematic Projects: Explore themes like military graves, gravestone recipes, or burial traditions.
2. Preliminary Search
2. Preliminary Search
3. Visit the Cemetery
3. Visit the Cemetery
Take clear, high-resolution photos of gravestones.
Document inscriptions, symbols, and materials.
Note the layout of the plot and any surrounding features.
4. Research Context
Check local archives or libraries for cemetery records.
Visit historical societies or church registries.
Use tools like Chronicling America and Ancestry to find obituary records and gravestone information.