That's really great information on Garden of Memories and Myrtle Hill. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. As for USF, anyone can use the facilities; however, visitors just cannot check out books. A word of caution - parking is at a premium, and there are meters that must be used to visit the library. Joyce E M Whetsel wrote: > Amber, > > Garden of Memories maintains their records and the records of Myrtle Hill > Cemetery in their corporate office in St. Pete. When you go to the cemetery > for info, they call St. Pete and when someone has time, they will do a > search and call back with the info. The folks at GoM are very helpful, but > it is a huge operation and I have spent precious hours waiting for that > return call. When you only have two days, every minute counts. I suggest > that you call or write to them now. 813-626-3161 Better yet, call and get > their fax number. Fax your request for information and they frequently will > fax back everything including a map of the plots you are looking for. > CAUTION!! Many cemeteries, including GoM, keep their records filed > accorrding to who owns/owned the burial plot. Confusion occurs when one > requests information on a burial and the plot was purchased by a married > daughter, niece, nephew or grandchild with a different surname. Their > records are indexed according to plot owners. Have as many of those names as > possible available when you request burial information. > > Marriage and immigration records...that exist...are available at the > courthouse which is only a few blocks from the Hillsborough County Public > Library. The main downtown library has an entire floor dedicated to > genealogy and history of the local area. It includes the largest collection > of census records I have seen in one place. Also there is an 8 volume > INDEXED set of burial records for Hillsborough County, current to 1985 or > 1990 that I have found invaluable in locating graves in Hillsborough County. > > USF is in north Tampa, about 20 minutes from downtown. I'm not familiar with > their policies for use of their records. I was of the understanding that it > was for faculty and students. I suggest you call and verify, unless someone > on the list has better information. > > If I can be of further help, email me privately. > > Marc Whetsel >