    |
    |
|
PRIMARY SOURCES
|
CEMETERY RECORDS / BURIAL RECORDS / FUNERAL HOMES
Records about an individual’s death are sometimes the only records that person left behind. Tombstones and other cemetery markers can offer a glimpse into life spans, family relationships, social standings, and cause of death. Not all tombstones remain intact, but those that do are certainly worth investigating even if the inscriptions are not very detailed or accurate. Their placement within the cemetery, additional inscriptions, and surrounding burial plots can all provide hints about the person and their family to expand your research.
Larger cemeteries usually have burial records available on-sight. Contact the cemetery office for assistance in locating the appropriate grave site. This prevents aimless and frustrating wondering around the grounds. If you suspect a cemetery to be abandoned, do not trespass on the property and try to contact the owners of the land to gain permission for a visit. Some cemeteries might be associated with a church or have other religious affiliations. Contact the site’s appropriate office to find out if they hold burial records for their cemetery.
Funeral home records might be more difficult to find but they can add detail to your cemetery findings. These documents usually list cause of death, place of death, family information, funeral costs, and burial details and location.
If you are having trouble locating where someone was buried, look for an obituary in the newspaper first. Obituaries often include family information along with the location of the burial, and they can also provide more clues to further your research.
You Might Learn About:
• How someone died
• Other family members buried nearby
• Personal and/or community religious beliefs
• Membership in a fraternal organization
• The company in which a war veteran served
• Where someone was born
• Community health epidemics
• A local disaster
• Different ethnic groups in the community
• A person’s economic status
• The community’s cultural values
Where to Find These Sources
• Look online for where your local cemeteries are located
• Larger cemeteries often have burial records at the site office
• Check for transcriptions of older cemeteries at your local history library or historical society
• The local history library or historical society might have funeral records
• Call your local funeral homes to find out if they provide access to their records
For more information, check out:
How to Read a Graveyard
at Do History
Cemetery Tutorial
at History Works |
|
