Information Found in Cemeteries
What can you learn from cemeteries?
Vital Record Dates
Relationship Information
Name Variations
Photographs
Occupation
Affiliations
Popular FREE Websites
Find-A-Grave
This site allows users to search for and upload information about headstones.
Tombstone Transcription Project
This website compiles cemetery inventories from across the Unites States into a single website.
McLennan County Cemetery Interest Group
This volunteer group is organized by the Waco-McLennan County Library's Genealogy Center. Call the Genealogy Center at 254-750-5945 for more information.
Cemetery Research
Learn about the basics of cemetery research in Part VI of our Building and Researching Your Family Tree, a twelve part beginners' series. Click here to see other videos in this series.
Know the Terms
| Cemetery Record | Cemetery Inventory |
|---|---|
|
A record is any information created and maintained about burials. Records are often created by the cemetery administrators (church, association, county, or other). Unfortunately, burial records are not available for all cemeteries. |
An inventory records information collected from headstones or markers. Only information that is visible at the time of the inventory's creation is recorded. Unfortunately, any burials that do not have a legible marker will not be identified in an inventory. |
Records to Use for Clues
What records might mention an individual's burial location?
Death Certificate
Obituary or Funeral Notice
Funeral Home Records
Church Records
Cemetery Association Records
Tips for Visiting a Cemetery
Take a camera. Take photos of the headstones. Do not take rubbings because this can damage the stones.
Do not move anything. Many unusual items are used as grave markers. If you see things like rocks, pipes, stakes, or other items, leave them where they are.
Look around for a pavilion or other structure. These will sometimes have a listing of burial locations.