More on reading tombstone inscriptions, this from Ancestry Daily News: In a recent issue, a reader mentioned that if you used chalk to highlight inscriptions on a stone, you should wash it off. The St.Louis-L mailing list just had some information on researching headstones from a society that seemed to know a great deal about it. Unfortunately, I did not keep the information, but I remember that they did not consider chalk a good idea. Maybe a search would find the group who could really give you some good advice that wouldn't damage the stones. LaVerne Good point LaVerne! The Association of Gravestone Studies (AGS) recommends, "Don't use shaving cream, chalk, graphite, dirt, or other concoctions in an attempt to read worn inscriptions. Using a large mirror to direct bright sunlight diagonally across the face of a grave marker casts shadows in indentations and makes inscriptions more visible." AGS has posted its list of "Gravestone Rubbings Dos and Don'ts" on its FAQ page at: http://www.gravestonestudies.org/faq.htm

Central GA. Gen. Society had a speaker from the Georgia Historical Society who was somewhat of an expert on tombstones. His suggested methods, the mirror and sun or to use PLAIN flour. It contains nothing that would damage the stone and the critters take care of the leftovers. He did not suggest rubbing anything on or against the stone since the pressure might cause the stone to snap. (In fact some cemeteries require you to have permission to do rubbings like Bonaventure in Savannah, even for family members.) You might check with the Society in Savannah for more information. Helen