--part1_32.21fb652.25f84c1a_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I received this today and I am passing this on to the list FYI. Sounds like good advice. Evelyn Young --part1_32.21fb652.25f84c1a_boundary Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Return-path: KCooli4087@aol.com From: KCooli4087@aol.com Full-name: KCooli4087 Message-ID: <b5.1454cdc.25f81d96@aol.com> Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 16:18:14 EST Subject: Re: [Q-R] FW from Modlin/Maudlin list re gravestone photography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 66 To: undisclosed-recipients:; In a message dated 3/8/00 3:11:54 PM Central Standard Time, MCmngs@aol.com writes: << Subj: [Q-R] FW from Modlin/Maudlin list re gravestone photography Date: 3/8/00 3:11:54 PM Central Standard Time From: MCmngs@aol.com To: QUAKER-ROOTS@rootsweb.com As always there is much controversy over whether it is good practice to clean the gravestones when wanting to photograph them, etc. One of the BlackSheep members and a friend, who has been a funeral director for 30 years, posted this in response to suggestions posted by another in regards to "enhancing" the stone for a better photo. I hope it answers some questions, and helps in the understanding of how serious this practice really is. Mari List Admin >Subject: Re Gravestone photography > >As a funeral director I can't let this go unanswered. Never for any reason >ever mark on a stone with anything! The chemicals and dyes in the chalk >will stain a lot of types of stone as well as chemically alter the >composition of the stone, thereby damaging it. The charcoal will leach into >the pores of the stone, and yes stone is porus, thereby permanetly staining >the stone also. The black marks on stone objects that have been subjected >to a fire is just that, charcoal leached into the pores of the stone. Rain >will not remove this. If you have to do anything to bring up a stone, then >shine a light at an angle to get a shadow. I do not recommend any type of >cleaning or marking of a stone. If you have to rub a stone, then do it with >a large enough piece of paper to cover the stone completely and use chalk or >charcoal to make the rubbing, but be careful not to get either of these >products in contact with the stone itself. > >Del A funeral director for over 30 years. >huggins@horizon.hit.net >Associate Emeritus IBSSG >Proud Rootsweb Donor >V.P. CCH&GS >> --part1_32.21fb652.25f84c1a_boundary--