One of the key resources for genealogists are cemeteries. Not only do they provide a great way to find ancestors, they also give the researcher a look into historical past of their family. Some of you may shy away from the thought of tramping through a cemetery, but I find it fascinating and restful.

When you find the cemetery that contains your ancestors there is a process to recording the information properly, especially if you have multiple graves to record. I like to take a quick walk through of the entire cemetery before beginning my transcription of the data, so that I know if there are multiple individuals or family groups to record. In this overview process, I will often mark the location of the graves so that I do not miss them during transcription. This can be done safely using blue masking tape or some sort of flag that is visible from a distance. If I happen to find that the entire cemetery is full of relatives, I will then sequentially, row by row, record all of the graves including any that have unreadable stones.

The method I use for recording these graves is a 5 x 7 spiral note book. The reason I use the 5 x 7 is that it stays stiffer than an 8.5 by 11 and has less tendency for the pages to flap in the event of a heavy wind. I record each row from left to right, allowing sequential formatted numbering to be used later, when I transcribe this information into the Access data base template I have created.

Why, you may ask did I create a separate template for cemeteries instead of just transcribing into one of the standard genealogy packages? I do both. I first create the cemetery data base file and the use it to fill in any missing information in my genealogy software. That way I can track which individuals I have found grave sites for and use that grave site as a source addition to my resource. I can then offer the cemetery data for sale as a separate product. I have always considered genealogy a hobby and a business.

Yes, I do take pictures of some of the older graves to preserve the information and details against future stone deterioration. I do not take a picture of every stone at this point because I do not own a digital camera. Even if I do take a picture, I do not store it in my genealogy software as that increases the file size measurably. When I finally create a book of a particular family, I merge the original data with the pictures and other documents into a separate software package that facilitates PDF Publishing and full editing control.

Have you spent the time in a cemetery? Or are you afraid one of your ancestors will come back and haunt you in your dreams? Do not be afraid, just remember all genealogists have the potential to see dead people, so keep your sense of humor, put on a pair of good walking shoes and go visit a cemetery today.

If you happen to see any dead people, do not forget to ask them to fill in any blanks in your research. Do not let a golden opportunity pass you by.