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Comment by Betty Jo Blevins on July 27, 2009 at 4:43pm

I have found the best way to find out all the information on an old headstone that does no damage to the stone is what they call rubbings. You use pellon and crayons and masking tape(I use the painter's tape). You tape the pellon on the stone and rub a crayon over the pellon. It will bring up all the lettering (even those you couldn't read with the naked eye) and any other designs on the stone. We have done these to alot of the family headstones in VA.

Comment by Rebecca Poertner on July 27, 2009 at 10:54am

Fluttergirl, no, I'm not put out with you. Why should I be? Water misting is the first one I listed because I use it the most, followed by aluminum foil. Chalking is a last resort, and you can see how carefully I worded it "use a light coloured chalk (don't use the Hot Pink or the Blue) and rub GENTLY over the marker. Then, take your school eraser (chalkboard eraser) and act like you are erasing the chalk off the marker. It actually smooths out the chalk and makes the marker easier to read. Lighter colours come off easier when it rains than the bright colours." Though I know it's not the best idea to use chalk, sometimes it's all I can do to read it. I lay (usually a light gray) on it's side, and just chalk just past the name. With the eraser, I "spread" the rest of the colour on the marker, I take the pic, and then spray it off. The way I do it, when I go back to the cemetery the next day after a big rain, the chalk is all gone. Hey, I'm not out to damage anything, especially a grave marker. If I thought chalk would hurt the marker the way I use it, I wouldn't do it. But again, I only use it as a last ditch effort.

Comment by Fluttergirl on July 27, 2009 at 8:40am

Oh, Rebecca, please don't use chalk on grave stones. The Find A Grave FAQ specifically requests that people should not use chalk on grave stones:

Never apply bleach, ammonia, shaving cream, chalk, firm pressure or...

Even the tiniest bit can cause erosion. If you visit the Find A Grave discussion forums (specifically the Cemetery Preservation section) you'll see how much "chalking" is frowned upon. There are two or three professionals who clean/create/maintain stones and they all say that any kind of chalk is bad. Here is a link to a chalking thread, which contains more information on why we shouldn't use chalk on stones:
Cemetery Preservation: Another Chalker!

I hope you're not put out with me for posting this. I had no idea how bad chalk was for stones until I started reading the discussion boards. :)

Comment by Darlina Shaw on July 27, 2009 at 2:03am

I use Picasa to tweek my photos, it is so easy to use, and it is free. Here's the link: http://picasa.google.com/

Comment by Donna LaVonne Senff-Mata on July 26, 2009 at 7:28pm

You have to downsize those photos to 250 kb or less in order for FAG to accept them. You can do that in Corel, or download MS Power Toys for Win XP, then scroll to Image Rezier Powertoy Setup. Run. Once it is in your computer, you can open a photo, click on File and go to the Resizer, click on it change the size to Small. It should work.

Comment by Emiko Lanier on July 26, 2009 at 7:15pm

I am doing the ancestry study so that if I find the people in my study, I request the original owner of the FAG, to transfer the Ownership to me. I had not had any problem getting transfer. All information can be corrected after you gain the ownership.

Comment by Darlene Krause on July 26, 2009 at 7:10pm

I am having trouble getting the pictures they I have taken to upload to FAG. I have cropped as much as I dare and they are still too big any suggestions out there. I have a digital camera.

Comment by Rebecca Poertner on July 26, 2009 at 3:11pm

For Joyce Garrott - I have 3 ways I can read old markers; 1 is to try with just a spray mist of water; 2 is put a sheet of aluminum foil over the marker front and rub with a rag or even a school eraser; 3 is to use a light coloured chalk (don't use the Hot Pink or the Blue) and rub GENTLY over the marker. Then, take your school eraser (chalkboard eraser) and act like you are erasing the chalk off the marker. It actually smooths out the chalk and makes the marker easier to read. Lighter colours come off easier when it rains than the bright colours. The school eraser also will clean off the marker a little bit from the mold, litchens, etc. without adding any water. You'll be surprised how great this works.

Comment by Kitty Whitlock on July 26, 2009 at 2:57pm

To Pat Wilkerson, what is your website for Taney Co.? I have a number of relatives there and not sure where they are all buried.

Comment by Pat Wilkerson on July 26, 2009 at 2:26pm

I joined FAG some time ago, and through FAG requests, I met people in our county that were transcribing and taking photos of county cemeteries. The group is a part of the White River Valley Historical Society, Cemetery hoppers. We meet at least once a month, bring water and soft scrub brushes and clean stones, transcribe them for a spreadsheet, take photos, have a picnic lunch, or just sandwiches, and make a day of it. When we are done, we end up putting the info on FAG, and also saving the info for our own website. As a group effort, we are attempting to visit every cemetery in Taney County, Mo. A great way to make new friends that have the same interests as you do.

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