Hello Listers,
I received this in my e-mail this morning from the Clermont Co. list that I
belong to. If any of you are looking for locations of cemeteries in
particular states and counties, this is a great resource I didn't even know
existed!!! I thought it was important enough to share with all the lists.
The person who sent it, also had some nice tips to add........printing up a
business card and photos of the cemetery entrance!! Now why didn't I think
of that!!! Of course I'm still a "newbie" at this research and have a lot
to learn.
Marilyn in Cincy
Q. <...Where should I go besides the courthouse offices and the
Genealogy Society?>
A. ...Most definitely the CEMETERIES involved, and especially their OFFICES
if the cemetery is still active. Go during week days when they are open.
In addition to family background, cemetery records also give info on WHO
handled burial arrangements; then you can add to your list of
visitation...the FUNERAL HOMES that handled burial. Very often you discover
more relatives than you knew existed, who were buried by the same funeral
director. [Whenever the funeral home is no longer in existence, ask a local
funeral director WHO may have bought-out the oldie so you can possibly get
to the records.]
Q. < Is there a county map available showing cemetery locations?>
A. Some of your cemeteries will be shown at:
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.gnis_web_query_form
On the form, fill in these 3 areas for whatever state or county you want.
State or Territory: Ohio
Feature Type: cemetery
County Name: Clermont
[You will get 31 resulting cemeteries for Clermont County that go on to
offer MAPS you can print out. You can 'ZOOM IN' many times on each location
to get best directions; print out both bird's eye zoom, AND close-up zoom to
carry with you.]
+CLERMONT COUNTY MAP (worth printing):
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/map1/ohiomap/images/county/clerm.gif
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS:
* If you haven't done so already, make yourself some BUSINESS CARDS!
The Caretakers of cemeteries give me a lot less resistance when I
immediately offer them my GENEALOGY BUSINESS CARD that I printed up myself
on the computer. They are less inclined to show you ALL of their available
info....if they think you are just being nosy.
Business Cards should include the following:
Your full name (ladies including their MAIDEN name in parenthesis) --
along with hyphens to given surnames where there has been more than one
marriage, i.e. Reynolds-Green.
In bolder print, identify yourself as - "The Family's Genealogist" (the
handle I use) and gladly share with anyone, or whatever else be of your
choosing.
Provide your mailing address, phone number, FAX if applicable, and E-Mail
address too.
* If need be, BUY a CAMERA that dates each photo. Inexpensive 35 MM cameras
are available that are winners for genealogists. It is extremely helpful,
in future generations, to know WHEN tombstone photos were taken.
When photographing family stones, ALWAYS take that first shot, on the
roll, of the Cemetery Entrance so you will later know the location of the
following tombstone pictures on the roll. Even if the pictures get a little
mixed up later, the negatives show the consecutive order. When you have
located and taken pictures of each person's tombstone, back up and take a
distance shot of the general area so you can recognize the location again in
the future.
If the cemetery has an office, get a MAP of their area so you can mark
your graves.