1185 Concord St. N. Suite 218
South St. Paul, MN 55075-1187
(651) 455-9057
mngs.org
|
Minnesota Genealogical Society
1185 Concord St. N. Suite 218 South St. Paul, MN 55075-1187 (651) 455-9057 mngs.org |
How To Transcribe A CemeteryTips from Ella G. JohnsonTranscribing a cemetery can be a pleasant and worthwhile project for you and your family, for a club or Scout troop. In copying the inscriptions from the tombstones, you will be preserving a valuable record from further erosion of wind and weather and from possible destruction by vandals. Information on tombstones is often not available anywhere else. Follow these suggestions if you decide to transcribe a cemetery. Before you go to the cemetery: 1. Check with MGS Cemetery Project Coordinator by writing to Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 Concord St. N. Suite 218, South St. Paul, MN 55075-1187, to be sure that the cemetery you want to transcribe has not already been copied. Be sure to enclose a self addressed, stamped envelope for the reply. 2. If the cemetery has not been copied before, find a plat map showing the location of the graves. If the church, cemetery association, or caretaker does not have a plat map, check at the County Courthouse for one. Also, find out if there are any written cemetery records. 3. If you cannot find a plat map of the cemetery, draw your own map. Assign numbers to the rows and to the stones in each row so that anyone using your transcription later can easily find any particular stone they are interested in seeing. 4. Next, assemble all of the supplies you will need to take with you on the day of transcribing. 1) Sticks or markers to mark the rows you are working on. 2) A stiff brush (not a wire brush) and water in a spray bottle to clean moss or dirt from the stones. 3) A linoleum knife or clippers to cut away grass which may have overgrown a stone lying flat in the ground; or a small shovel to uncover a buried stone. 4) White chalk to rub over illegible inscriptions to make them more readable. (Never use crayons or paints or anything that would permanently mar or deface the surface.) 5) A clip board for holding your papers and more paper and pencils than you think you will need., 6) A picnic lunch and plenty of water to drink because the project will take longer than you think. 7) Insect repellant and suntan lotion. 8) A copy of the plat map you found or drew. 9) Comfortable, protective clothing and sturdy shoes. 10) A camera. At the cemetery: 1. Following the numbering system on the plat map, copy the inscriptions from the gravestones in order. Indicate the number of the stone next to each surname. Make an entry for each stone whether or not it is readable. If more than one name is on a stone, show all the names and dates pertaining to that stone. 2. Accuracy is very important. Copy each stone exactly as it is written. If the data is in a foreign language, transcribe it that way. Do not change it to English. Do not guess at data or alter the data shown on the stone. If you feel a need to explain something or are not sure of the data, indicate so in a comment in parentheses after the transcribed data. Indicate veterans markers, lodge insignia and any other emblems, epitaphs, verses, etc., that may be of interest. Ask yourself what information should be preserved if the cemetery were destroyed tomorrow. 3. Recheck everything you have written down. If you are working with other people on the project, trade papers and go completely through the cemetery again to check each other's work. Errors are considerably reduced this way. After you have finished copying in the cemetery: 1. After you have spent the time in the cemetery itself, your notes must be put in good order so that they can be shared with others. Type the tombstone inscriptions according to the numbering system of the plat map. Include a copy of the plat map and a brief explanation of the numbering system if necessary. Typing the inscriptions in order will show the proximity of graves which often indicates family relationships and can provide important clues for genealogists. You can make an all name or surname only index also. 2. After you have typed the inscriptions and rechecked again for accuracy, include any other information about the cemetery which you may have found in cemetery records or at the County Court house. Show the source of your information. List the present name of the cemetery and any other names by which it may have been known. Give the date of the formation of the cemetery and a brief history. Describe the location of the cemetery, state, county, township, section and quarter section, and give directions on how to find it. 3. Bind the pages in a small folder and donate copies to the local library, county historical society, Minnesota Historical Society, and to the cemetery association or church which owns the cemetery. 4. Most important: Do not forget to inform the MGS Cemetery Project Coordinator that you have transcribed the cemetery and where a copy may be obtained. You may wish to send a copy to MGS for publication in the quarterly magazine, Minnesota Genealogist, or you may wish to publish it privately. 5. Give yourself a pat on the back for having made a major contribution to the preservation of local history and community pride in your area. Happy transcribing! |
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