Since so many have seen/heard/read this debate, it's logical to include all on the facts found in the book by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, "Your Guide to Cemetery Research", publ. 220 by Better Way Genealogy Books, Cincinnati, OH. I have it as part of my genealogy "help" books and have found it invaluable. source of information. Ms. Carmack is a Certified Genealogist, author of twelve genealogy books, the editor of Better Way Genealogy Books, and a contributing editor of 'Family Tree Magazine'. Her video demonstrating tombstone photography and rubbing techniques--"Cryptic Clues in The Bone Yard"--may be seen on her website: www.sharoncarmack.com. I quote the pages on photographing the stone only--pages 113-115: "Before you take a photograph of the stone, it may need some light cleaning. Lichen and moss love to attach to tombstones and birds find them irresistible perches... Spray the stone with plain water, distilled if available. Use a soft nylon or plastic brush to LIGHTLY loosen the debris, then GENTLY rub it away with a rag. If what you are trying to remove does not come off with this gentle cleaning, leave it alone. Algae, lichen and fungi can stain stones and this cannot be removed safely. Do NOT use any types of cleansers or chemicals to try and clean a stone as this can cause permanent damage. Remember tombstones are historical artifacts; some have been around since the 1600s. Just because they are made from stone doesn't mean they're durable. "Some may already be flaking, crumbling or chipping, in which case,DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE STONE. Acid-based compounds, like vinegar, can eat away marble. Many genealogists, myself included, used to use shaving cream to clean the stone and bring out the image, however, gravestone preservationists caution that shaving cream has a low pH, which means it is acidic, and over time will harm the stone. While you may not think there are any particularly harmful ingredients in whipped cream, sour cream, ice cream or any other kind of cream, don't use these on gravestones as a means to enhance the carving either--use it for lunch! "What about dusting the headstone with talcum powder, flour or cornstarch? While probably not directly harmful to the stone, powdery substances are messy and don't work all that well. And remember, flour and water can make paste. So whether you leave the flour for the next rain to clean away or use a sprayer bottle to clean away the flour, this combination is not something you want glued to a tombstone or left on the ground around it. If you absolutely must use something to bring out the image, use a find layer of white chalk--and only white-- rub it gently across the stone surface, not into the carving. Do not use "sidewalk chalk"-- it scratches. And use only on the most durable and stable of headstones." The watch word is, if in doubt, don't! "After photographing a chalked stone, use your sprayer bottle of water to clean off the chalk residue... It is always best to leave the site in the same or better, condition as you found it. The chapter goes on for ten more [illustrated] pages suggesting items to be sure to bring when planning a photography trip to the cemetery, tips [use of a reflective mirror or cardboard wrapped in foil] and making a rubbing using pellon or butcher paper and type of oil crayon--always remembering that the stability and integrity of the stone is the ultimate decision-maker. I hope these words from an authority helps clarify the practice and use of materials when photographing an ancestor's last resting place. Jan Miller [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Debbi Geer" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 12:40 PM Subject: Re: [ILMACOUP] shaving cream on headstones > It seems that some people want to continue the > discussion of using or not using shaving cream on > gravestones. If you wish to do that, fine, but please > correspond privately so that you don't end up having > some of us unsubscribing. > > I'm sure that Gloria and Kathy do not want to lose any > subscribers. This list is for Macoupin Co IL research > and it's time to get back that subject rather than a > general subject which is more appropriately open for > discussion on another list that Rootsweb provides such > as general genealogical research. > > > Debbi > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Need Mail bonding? > Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. > http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091 > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >