thanks. now i have more questions... what type of paper are they using? how is it affixed to the stones? what type of markers are they using? what materials have people used that would be hazardous to the stone, and thus cause cemetery personnel to be unhappy? i assume people do this to frame and hang later as a work of art, correct? -----Original Message----- From: uebush@sbcglobal.net To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 17:02:50 -0500 Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing Scot, Go to this link and see it in action. http://hcgs.net/hccc/ymca2005.html UEB Henry Co., IN INPCRP ----- Original Message ----- From: <scotstout@aol.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 4:14 PM Subject: [INPCRP] stone rubbing > can someone tell me what a gravestone rubbing is? what's the purpose of > making a rubbing? how does one properly do it? > > i've only heard about this, but never seen it done. when i was in england > in 2001 i saw numerous signs in every cathedral prohibiting rubbings > without permission, but i never saw anyone doing it. > > scot > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you > have." > Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know.

Lightweight Pellon or similar non-woven interfacing from a fabric store is best to use. Sheets of plain newsprint have also been used, but they can tear easily. Use a wax made for cemetery rubbings or a fat crayon held with it's long side against the stone. Chalk can be used, but it will rub off. I'd take preservative spray or hair spray to spray the paper done with chalk, after removing it from the stone, but before rolling it up to put in the car. The best way to attach the paper to the stone is to have the paper big enough wrap all the way around the stone -- tape the paper to itself. A second way is to have one person hold and another person rub. Anytime anything is taped to the stone, it had the potential of damaging the stone when removed. Therefore, I would only use low-tack painter's tape (the blue stuff) and CAREFULLY take it off as soon as the rubbing is done. I used the rubbing I did as a background to a display case for Halloween. I have photos of all my ancestors' stones. Easier to store, and sometimes easier to read, especially if there are lichens on the stone. Sharon Howell

thanks sharon and others. that's very helpful and informative. regarding reading difficult tombstones, i have tried two solutions that work well for me. 1. i use photoshop to increase the contrast of the photographic image -- that usually works unless the stone has a lot of stains. 2. when at the cemetery, rather than use the big-no-no-shaving-cream, my cousins brought white corn meal & rubbed it gently over the stone. of course, it went into the depressions and made the stone very easy to read as well as photograph. and the rain washes it out and it decomposes, being 100% organic. (please tell me that was ok to do.) scot -----Original Message----- From: Sharon Howell <sshowell@indy.net> To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 18:36:48 -0500 Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing Lightweight Pellon or similar non-woven interfacing from a fabric store is best to use. Sheets of plain newsprint have also been used, but they can tear easily. Use a wax made for cemetery rubbings or a fat crayon held with it's long side against the stone. Chalk can be used, but it will rub off. I'd take preservative spray or hair spray to spray the paper done with chalk, after removing it from the stone, but before rolling it up to put in the car. The best way to attach the paper to the stone is to have the paper big enough wrap all the way around the stone -- tape the paper to itself. A second way is to have one person hold and another person rub. Anytime anything is taped to the stone, it had the potential of damaging the stone when removed. Therefore, I would only use low-tack painter's tape (the blue stuff) and CAREFULLY take it off as soon as the rubbing is done. I used the rubbing I did as a background to a display case for Halloween. I have photos of all my ancestors' stones. Easier to store, and sometimes easier to read, especially if there are lichens on the stone. Sharon Howell ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project only. Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The surname and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com are a better venue. Thank you.

Scott, I have ordered this kit from AGS if you looking at teaching. http://www.gravestonestudies.org/store/field_guides.htm Here is the site I have linked on my page. Set your bifocals up ;-) Small print. http://www.ctgravestones.com/Conservation/cleaning.htm I have not heard of using corn meal. I believe the photo flo cleaner you were using is recommended. I will work on the toolbox page soon. L.A. ----- Original Message ----- From: <scotstout@aol.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 6:54 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing > thanks sharon and others. that's very helpful and informative. > > regarding reading difficult tombstones, i have tried two solutions that work well for me. 1. i use photoshop to increase the contrast of the photographic image -- that usually works unless the stone has a lot of stains. 2. when at the cemetery, rather than use the big-no-no-shaving-cream, my cousins brought white corn meal & rubbed it gently over the stone. of course, it went into the depressions and made the stone very easy to read as well as photograph. and the rain washes it out and it decomposes, being 100% organic. (please tell me that was ok to do.) > > scot > > -----Original Message----- > From: Sharon Howell <sshowell@indy.net> > To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 18:36:48 -0500 > Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing > > > Lightweight Pellon or similar non-woven interfacing from a fabric store is best to use. Sheets of plain newsprint have also been used, but they can tear easily. > > Use a wax made for cemetery rubbings or a fat crayon held with it's long side against the stone. Chalk can be used, but it will rub off. I'd take preservative spray or hair spray to spray the paper done with chalk, after removing it from the stone, but before rolling it up to put in the car. > > The best way to attach the paper to the stone is to have the paper big enough wrap all the way around the stone -- tape the paper to itself. A second way is to have one person hold and another person rub. Anytime anything is taped to the stone, it had the potential of damaging the stone when removed. Therefore, I would only use low-tack painter's tape (the blue stuff) and CAREFULLY take it off as soon as the rubbing is done. > > I used the rubbing I did as a background to a display case for Halloween. I have photos of all my ancestors' stones. Easier to store, and sometimes easier to read, especially if there are lichens on the stone. > > Sharon Howell > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer > Cemeteries Restoration Project only. > Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The surname and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com are a better venue. > Thank you. > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > >

Scot, Sharon Howell's posted method is the one we use. You can use sidewalk chalk and newsprint paper. Just make sure the stones are on a solid foundation and not ready to fall on someone. The only thing that touches the stone should be the paper. Just be careful and leave the cemetery cleaner than you found it. UEB Henry Co., IN INPCRP ----- Original Message ----- From: <scotstout@aol.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 5:55 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing > thanks. now i have more questions... what type of paper are they using? > how is it affixed to the stones? what type of markers are they using? > > what materials have people used that would be hazardous to the stone, and > thus cause cemetery personnel to be unhappy? > > i assume people do this to frame and hang later as a work of art, correct? > > -----Original Message----- > From: uebush@sbcglobal.net > To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 17:02:50 -0500 > Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing > > > Scot, > > Go to this link and see it in action. http://hcgs.net/hccc/ymca2005.html > > UEB > Henry Co., IN > INPCRP > ----- Original Message ----- From: <scotstout@aol.com> > To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 4:14 PM > Subject: [INPCRP] stone rubbing > >> can someone tell me what a gravestone rubbing is? what's the purpose of > >> making a rubbing? how does one properly do it? >> >> i've only heard about this, but never seen it done. when i was in england >> > in 2001 i saw numerous signs in every cathedral prohibiting rubbings > >> without permission, but i never saw anyone doing it. >> >> scot >> >> >> ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== >> "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you > >> have." >> Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) >> >> > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Quote from William Gladstone (1809-1897), three-time Prime Minister of > England and Victorian contemporary of Benjamin Disraeli: > "Show me the manner in which a nation or community > cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical > exactness the tender mercies of its people, their > respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty > to high ideals." > >