It's kind of spooky walking through a cemetery for the very first time. Some might even think of it as morbid. It takes some getting used to but if you are on a mission, even the dead can't shake you. For African Americans, cemeteries are one of the primary sources of information we have available to us. Unlike other immigrant groups in this country, our very being didn't merit the kind of accurate, detailed, methodical record keeping as others. Considered chattel, the recordation of the names of our Mothers and Fathers were unimportant as only human beings had parents. Noting when or where we were born was left up to the slave which can often be described as "...I was born before freedom came during strawberry season.." So we must look to both public and privately held segregated cemeteries for answers where official records don't exist. If available, headstones and funeral home records are an excellent source for dates, birthplaces, maiden names, spouses' names and parents' names. Additionally, they can include military service honors, social organizations and religious affiliations.
Before You Go
Visiting a cemetery in a small, rural area requires some advance preparation. Below are some tips in preparing for the outing.
Determine of there is a caretaker for the cemetery. Asking a few simple questions abut the condition and exact location of the cemetery will go a long way in preparing for the visit. If at all possible, arrange a time and date to have the caretaker to meet you there. Chances are, this person knows more about who is buried there than you realize. If the cemetery has no caretaker, take a moment to visually survey the environment before you begin your journey through the past. How big is it? Is it overgrown or in a wooded area? How do you enter and exit ? If you are visiting during warm weather, are there trees for shade?
If you have to travel out of town to investigate a cemetery, please consider the weather conditions for each region before you plan your trip. For example, Florida is a very humid state during the summer going into early fall. Arizona can reach temperatures well into the hundreds during the summer and that's in the shade! You should also consider the natural predators that tend to make their presence known during the summer: red ants, mosquitoes, ticks, wasps, spiders, field mice and snakes. The best time to visit a cemetery is in the spring or fall. Alas, if you must go in the summer, then go to the cemetery very early in the morning before the sun begins to warm things up.
Based upon the location and the season, dress appropriately. Remember, many African American cemeteries are located in the thick of woods where you might find more predators than the few mentioned above. make it difficult for mosquitoes and ticks by wearing long sleeves, jeans and closed-toe shoes. Gardener gloves and wide brimmed will also be a plus.
Finally, on the day before you plan to walk the cemetery, drive by it first to see if you have a cell phone signal. If you don't, you should try and have another person to go with you for the official walk through. Safety should be of paramount interest but accidents do happen and it is important the emergency personnel can be called upon if needed.
Survival Kits
Avoid going to a cemetery alone.
Check your cell phone for a signal!
Bring a digital or video camera (with extra batteries and memory card)
In the summer, have plenty of cold water in an ice chest. No food as it only attracts insects.
Do not use lotions, perfumes, eat candy or any other sweet smelling products as it will surely attract bees and wasps. There are some safe insect repellents on the market that you can also apply to your face and neck. Keep the can with you, you may need it later. Spray your arms, legs and first, then your shoes, socks, pant legs, shirt sleeves.
If you are in a wooded area in a small rural town, carry a stick for wandering animals.
A soft nylon brush to clear excess dirt and moss from the headstone.
Small hand garden tools like clippers, hand held shovel and hand held hoe are especially help in clearing immediate brush and grass near or on the headstone as well as maneuvering sunken head and foot stones.
A Snake Bite Kit (it's possible...)
Sunscreen (if necessary)
A notepad and pencils for transcriptions or a digital tape recording device of those buried near the grave site of your relative.
Headstone Rubbings
Headstone rubbings are used to "lift" information from headstones whose lettering or symbols have been eroded over time by natural elements (i.e. sun, wind, rain). Next to your ancestor not having a headstone at all, encountering a broken or unreadable stone is pretty disappointing. When this happens to you, take comfort in knowing that there are several techniques that can be used to get the information you need.
Non-fusible medium weight interfacing (check your fabric store).
Rubbing Wax.
Masking tape and Scissors for cutting your fabric to size
This has been the most effective procedure:
Measure and cut enough fabric to fit the headstone as well as to wrap around the side of the headstone.
Tape the fabric to the headstone as tightly a possible. If the fabric moves or slips, your results will be disappointing.
Rub in one direction ONLY! Horizontal vertical or diagonal. Don't change directions.
You must apply even pressure to the stone when rubbing.
Non-fusible medium weight interfacing (check your fabric store).
