In a message dated 8/22/2005 10:01:04 PM Central Daylight Time, INSHELBY-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: I contacted a headstone maker here and asked him if there was any safe way to be able to read some of the headstones. He told me to take regular "blackboard chalk" and trace around the letters (or inside the letters). He told me that if white didn't work that I could use the colored chalks. That they were completely safe. Another way to read headstones is to do a tracing. I use art paper and charcoal. Lay the paper over the stone and rub the charcoal over the whole stone until it is legible. I have been able to read stones that are not legible by doing tracings. Ma