Thank you all for this interesting discussion. Archeological sites, such as those having stone monuments in Guatemala, have laws banning the practice of rubbings because of erosion and other damage that can be done to the stones. Many states in the US also have regulations against taking rubbings of tombstones. As family historians, I think we have a responsibility to preserve and protect our family artifacts and, at least, do no further harm to tombstones. This web page provides alternatives to traditional rubbings and recommends that we do NOT use chalk or flour or shaving cream on tombstones: http://www.savinggraves.org/education/bookshelf/alternative.htm This web page also has links to other pages discussing the use of chalk, flour, shaving cream and other substances. They recommend against using these substances. Using chalk, flour or shaving cream leaves residues on the gravestone despite our best intentions to wash them off. These residues may harm tombstones in other ways than those mentioned in the "hoax" article. Traditional rubbings also can harm stones. Two alternatives they recommend is the aluminum foil method, which was mentioned by someone else in this thread, and viewing "negatives" of digital photos. They also recommend different viewing methods that may make it easier to read the information on the stone so that you can simply write it down. These alternative methods allow us to document the information on tombstones without harming the stones. Let's use them. My two cents. Ken >From: "Gloria Motter" <jgmott@roadrunner.com> >Reply-To: ohallen@rootsweb.com >To: <ohallen@rootsweb.com> >Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Shaving Cream on Tombstones-my last response >Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:05:45 -0500 > >Easter you are right there is no paint on tomb stones, but I am sticking to >using nothing but the rubbing on old stones like I have for 20 years, I am >not taking any chances. > >Gloria > > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Get today's hot entertainment gossip http://movies.msn.com/movies/hotgossip?icid=T002MSN03A07001