* CLEANING TOMBSTONES -- REVISITED * MAKING STAFF HAPPY * KUDOS * IN APPRECIATION * STATS CLEANING TOMBSTONES -- REVISITED In last month's newsletter we had an article about how to take great pictures of tombstones and suggested items to take with you to make the picture taking easier. (If you are new to the project you can read back issues of the newsletters here: http://www.raogk.org/newsletters/) I had asked if anyone had any further tips or tricks for getting those great tombstone pictures to drop me a note. The response was great. Many of you had some great suggestions, others thanked us for the article, a few thought that a wheel-barrow would probably be needed to carry all the suggested items along with them, while quite a few suggested the use of shaving cream. Shaving cream is considered highly damaging to gravestones, especially those belonging to our pre-20th century ancestors. At one time the use of shaving cream was widely recommended and was on the top of many lists as the thing to use to bring out the lettering. You will still find articles on the internet that suggest its use. However, The Association for Gravestone Studies indicates: Our professional conservators tell us it is definitely not a good idea to use shaving cream on porous gravestones because there are chemicals, greasy emollients, in shaving cream that are sticky and very difficult to remove from the stone with a simple washing. Indeed, even with vigorous scrubbing and lots of rinsing, the cream fills in the pores of a porous stone and cannot all be removed. The result of leaving it there is that in time it may discolor or damage the stone. Instead, use a mirror to shine sunlight across the face of a stone, making the lettering stand out. Always prefer a non- invasive method on gravestones just as we do on medical tests on our own bodies. The above is from their website: http://www.gravestonestudies.org/preservation.htm Here are a few other websites you can visit regarding this subject (thanks to Trevia Wooster Beverly, RAOGK Volunteer Texas): Tombstone rubbings http://www.mtsu.edu/~then/Cemetery/page6.html http://www.savinggraves.org/education/bookshelf/rubbings.htm Cemetery Dos & Don'ts http://genealogy.about.com/cs/cemeterytips/ Texas Historical Commission; click on Cemeteries - http://www.thc.state.tx.us/ Links to Resources on Cemetery History & Preservation http://www.potifos.com/cemeteries.html Please do not put anything on a tombstone you are attempting to photograph in your volunteer duties that might damage the stone. Shaving cream and other foreign substances can prove harmful to a badly worn stone, as can applying paper and attempting to trace the inscription. Consider that the tombstone might have been in better condition when you found it if someone before you hadn't already damaged it by applying substances so that they could read it. Consider local government ordinances when taking photographs of tombstones. A RAOGK volunteer in Scotland wrote to say that it is common courtesy to ask permission to photograph stones from the entity responsible for them (church, cemetery office, etc.). He indicated that many times by asking permission he is provided with additional information about the stones he wishes to photograph. He also indicates that many of the burial grounds in Scotland, because of their age, are Scheduled or Listed (i.e. protected by law), with strict rules to follow when doing so and large fines for damaging stones. If you have plans to travel to Scotland he suggests to visit the Historic Scotland's Graveyards and Gravestone website (http://www.scottishgraveyards.org.uk/) and download their leaflets (PDF files). Some suggestions that were made: Leave a business sized card with your name, email address and on the card that says "Researching [family name]. If you are researching this family, please contact me." "Laminate" the card with clear contact paper to protect from the weather. You can use a rock to anchor it or purchase the little plastic card holders from your local florist and stick it in the ground. Carry a whistle (cell phones don't always work), a GPS unit would be nice, tell someone where you are going and about what time you will return, bring a friend Garden boots that slip over shoes for wet grass or mud Placing a small nosegay of silk flowers near the stone (makes it look like someone cares) requester really appreciates it. Getting level with stone helps. Take photos of surrounding tombstones, the cemetery entrance. Create a log/database of your pictures and keep them on file, one never knows when you might get more requests for same gravestone. One volunteer indicated that she lets the nail grow out on her little finger to use to remove moss, etc. She said you can tell far faster if you are gouging the stone with this method over using orange sticks or pop sickle sticks. She suggest to use a dish brush, not a vegetable brush, however she carries a wide, retractable computer brush to dust off stones. One volunteer says that he has found that the person who knows where every grave is located is the guy running the Weed-eater. Added to another's kit is a wide plastic putty knife for those flat markers that are really buried, its great for scooping off dirt. If you have any hints or tips and would like to submit them, please send message to feedback@raogk.org with subject line: Cemeteries. ***************** MAKING STAFF HAPPY Have you gone on Temporary Status and forgotten to submit a form to return? The form can be found at http://www.raogk.org/change.html (4th link down). Usually right before the date you indicated you would be returning to active status a staff member will contact you with a reminder. Please be sure you either go to the change form and reactivate or reply to the staff member letting them know that you are unable to return yet. Temporary status is only for 3 months, if you are at the 3 month limit you should go to the change form and remove yourself from the site. When you find you can begin to do lookups again, you are always welcome to return. If you need to change your Act of Kindness (AOK) or change your e-mail address, you would also go to the link above. However, what we would like for you to do is find your listing on the site and send yourself a test message. This way you will know what address you are signed up with so we can find you easily in our database. As many people can have the same name but there can be no duplicate e-mail addresses, our databases are set up by e-mail addresses. If you go to the site and cannot find your listing, and you are still getting this newsletter, chances are you on temporary. But to make sure please send a message to the staff member that handles your area: http://www.raogk.org/staff.html ***************** KUDOS: http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of August saw kudos written about: James Mowat (England), Sandy Hatfield (Pennsylvania), Marjorie Bull (Missouri), Dave McTigue (Massachusetts), Dutch Nagle (Arizona), Carl Smith (California), Ruth Brandel (Minnesota), Jo Woodward (Missouri), Jean Pendexter (Maine), Tedd Cocker (Delaware), Deanna Cunningham (Kansas), Alvie L. Davidson (Florida), Noreen Ott (California), Michelle Sousa (California), Shirley (New York), Debra Usry (Texas), Elizabeth Norpell (Ohio), Vicki Enigk (Pennsylvania), Curtis Talbot (Wyoming), Karolyn Simpson (Montana), Mary Kaye Vernon (Texas), Smiley Scott (Oklahoma), Paul Daraghy (Colorado), Harold Salinas (Florida), Bill Caldwell [2] (Tennessee), Shirley (New York), Gail Hilchey (California), Jim Strezoff [2] (Texas), George Spadon (Australia), Pat Kemper (Texas), Ruth Knapman (Alaska), Brenda K. Wolfgram Moore (Michigan) ***************** IN APPRECIATION Every month we received contributions from researchers and volunteers alike. We are most appreciative of these donation. Some contributions, however contain notes which will name a specific volunteer who has been such a great help. The month of August saw Evelyn Ehlert (Michigan), Melinda Delay (New Mexico), Kathrine Jenkins [2] (Montana), Sally Knauss (Kentucky), Paul Daraghy (Colorado), Patricia Hale (Arizona), Judy (Massachusetts) mentioned on contributions. Our hats go off to those volunteers and all the unnamed wonders we have on our site as well. A great big THANK YOU goes out to one and all who have helped RAOGK to continue to be a presence online. Your purchases through one of our stores or by sending a contribution via PayPal or check are very much appreciated. http://www.raogk.org/support.html ***************** CURRENT STATS Last month: 4055 This month: 4052 New: 66 Left: 25 Staff removals*: 37 August Requests (through August 30, 2007): 6,100 USA volunteers received: 5,529 NON-USA volunteers received: 571 *Staff removals are those folks whose e-mail address has been reported bouncing and confirmed or volunteers who, over the course of trying many times, did not respond back to requesters or staff. The STAFF thanks you for volunteering and until next month. . . . . . THE STAFF Bridgett, Michele, Bill, Anja, Terri, Nancy, Jo, Bonnie, Melissa, Brenda, Dennis, Kathy, Jeniann and Doc, the Tech Guru