----- Original Message ---- From: Kenneth Graham gram9876@hotmail.com >>>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 That's the problem with this site - the "information" presented therein about shaving cream is based on the known hoax. That's the whole point of the page that was first posted here. There is no reason to believe that shaving cream harms tombstones, and, if the rationale at the above site is followed to its logical conclusion, then the result is that the stone is PRESERVED, not further harmed. >>>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. Again, this is simply conjecture without any supporting evidence. There has never been any evidence shown that they leave any residue. There is only the suggestion that it might. Furthermore, there is no reason to think that any residue, even if it does persist, is harmful. It could just as well be beneficial to the stone. Esther S.