I want to call your attention to a new free (no advertising)
volunteer-based resource for on-line genealogy. The US GeoGen Project
combines the use of geographic information systems (hand-held GIS locator
devices) and genealogy to assist researchers to find site of interest. The
first places to be added to the on-line database are cemeteries. I
volunteered to coordinate the process of establishing sites for Louisiana
parishes. (I grew up in Acadia Parish and much of my research is done in
Southwest Louisiana.)
http://www.samlyons.org/usgeogen-LA/browsela.htm
I created preliminary tables of the cemeteries in every parish but I know
that these are incomplete. I used the US Geological Survey's Geographic
Names Database to get the cemetery locations. This list omits many old
cemeteries, most new cemeteries and almost all family cemeteries. I would
like your help to gather the names and locations of the cemeteries that
aren't listed. Even if you can't provide the location, it would be very
helpful if you could provide me with the names of cemeteries that are not
on my list.
I'm involved in this project because of a frustrating experience I had
several years ago. I spent several days on two separate trips to Louisiana
trying to find an old cemetery. No one I asked had ever heard about
it. Although I eventually found it and found a grave marker for my
ancestor, I've never forgotten the frustration at knowing the general
vicinity but not the exact place to look. With the low cost of GIS devices
(Wal-Mart sells very good ones for less than $125) it is possible to
directly go anywhere if there is proper information posted about location.
Please look at what I've done with Acadia Parish to see what is
possible. I have the exact locations of some cemeteries and I'll have the
locations of the other Acadia Parish sites listed soon. From each cemetery
with a known exact location you may click on the blue icon to get a map
showing the exact spot. Also, clicking on the cemetery name brings you to
a page by the local genealogy society to get more information or to order
books of grave marker transcriptions. There are other possibilities for
linking to local groups.
Let me know what you think,
David
--
David Lawrence -- David.Lawrence(a)SDSU.edu
Director, Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice
Graduate School of Public Health
San Diego State University
6505 Alvarado Road, Suite 208
San Diego, CA 92120
Voice: 619-594-3691 Fax: 619-594-1995
http://www.InjuryPreventionWeb.org