CEMETERY-L Archives

Archiver > CEMETERY > 1998-03 > 0890412272


From: "John Rathbone" <>
Subject: Re: [CEMETERY-L] Use of chalk?
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 11:44:32 -0500


From John Rathbone at

Hi, Patti et al!

I hope this reply is going to "the List" and not just to one person. One
never knows.

I understand your feelings regarding the comments you-all received about
the shaving cream question. And, because you are new to this group, I can
understand how you may have been taken aback by the reaction which your
innocent question created. How else can one learn without asking
questions?

However, you should also know that, having just completed a long and
acrimonious flame war in January on the subject of how best to read old,
worn gravestones, many of us are still licking our wounds, even the
"lurkers" like me! I can understand the "old timer's" reaction -- I even
felt like saying "Uh, oh! Here we go again!" All in good humor, please
understand. [;>))

All through the debate, I copied the various replies -- those which were of
a positive nature -- and placed them into a file which I have since lost,
except for the hard copies which I made available to our genealogy SIG.

There are two schools of thought on the subject and, in essence, they are
as follows. (1) Do nothing to any gravestone which is not reversible;
don't even touch it -- just look at it, use mirrors to focus sunlight onto
the face of the gravestone, and take photos of it! The other viewpoint is
(2) Go ahead, put shaving cream or talc on them or take rubbings; you can't
hurt them any more than our polluted atmosphere is doing. Both sides to
the question cited various experts from the science of geology (et al).
Even our genealogy SIG has two schools of thought on the subject.

Some of us suggested that this subject of what to do and not to do to
gravestones should be placed into a "FAQ" file for the newer folks who are
subscribing to this list in order to avoid future flame wars between
well-intentioned folks who feel strongly about their opinions. I guess
this has not been done.

You should know that it got so bad, that (if I remember correctly) we all
were warned that any more discussion on the subject would result in
immediate removal from the list! In fact, I may be placing my own
membership in risk by writing you.

You may wish to travel on neutral ground and seek advice from the
Association for Gravestone Studies in Massachusetts. I do not know their
URL, but I am sure your browser can find it for you. Between the AGS and
the cemetery management or caretaker (which folks are also
well-intentioned, but often unaware of consequences), you may find an
acceptable method of reading or recording what is found on a gravestone.
The AGS can help you in the area of cemetery cleanup (maintenance) and
repair.

I am leaving town for several days, so will not be able to respond to any
inquiries or other reaction. Not a coward's way out; we had planned this
for several months!

Good luck -- and please understand an old veteran's commentary!
----------
> From: Patti Stott <>
> To:
> Subject: Re: [CEMETERY-L] Use of chalk?
> Date: Friday, March 20, 1998 10:07 AM
>
> Hi,
> I agree with John as far as the smart remark given about shaving cream.
> Being a newby at cemetery cleanup and repair, I had hoped to find out
some
> info on things to do and NOT to do, but since this list seems to be not
> interested in helping anyone, I may just unsub from it.
>
> Patti
>
>
> ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ====
> ALL messages "replied" to are sent directly to the list.
> Private messages must be manually address if they are
> NOT to be sent to ALL list members.

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