To search county record information select Public Records, a state, and then a county of interest.
Cemetery Records Overview
A cemetery record documents the names, birth and death dates of the deceased. These records are often used to help complete someone's family tree or determine their ancestors' burial locations. Cemetery records are available to the public but are not collected or distributes by any federal or state entity which can make the search for these records slightly challenging.
Cemetery records can be retrieved from several independent organizations dedicated to the preservation of graves and tombstones. Many organizations have taken on the initiative of transcribing cemetery tombstones all across the U.S. to provide free and easy access to this genealogically relevant information.
Other organizations that provide information relevant to cemetery records include State Cemetery Associations and State Funeral Directors Committees. For information on the burial locations of deceased military veterans, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs provides contact information for all 142 National cemeteries reserved for the interment of fallen soldiers.
The National Movement for Tombstone Preservation
Over periods of time gravestones will tend to accumulate a considerable amount of dirt, mold and water spots. The practice of tombstone preservation is a commitment to conserving the quality of aging gravestones in an effort to maintain a loved one's resting place intact.
Tombstones cleanings are a popular practice, particularly among genealogy researchers with a mutual appreciation for maintaining accurate records of the deceased.
There are various techniques involved in the practice of preserving tombstones. Stone conservation experts are best suited to provide consultation on the preservation of aging cemetery stones. People who specialize in cemetery conservation are usually trained by experts from the National Parks Service and use a variety of methods to conserve stones that most people are unaware of. Below are a few of the most commonly used techniques:
- Clean grave stones with white nylon bristle brushes. A good example is a toothbrush. Nylon bristles are best for avoiding scratches, and the absence of dye in the bristles prevents unintended staining of the grave stone during cleaning sessions.
- When using liquids to scrub grave stones always substitute calcium hypochlorite for bleach. Household bleaches contain sodium which is highly damaging to stone.
- Finally, avoid tombstone rubbing. Rubbing refers to the act of placing a paper over the tombstone and reproducing the engraving on paper with pencil strokes. The practice of "rubbing" at a graveyard s is actually very harmful to the stone and is being banned by many cemeteries.
To better learn how to care for cemetery grave stones, consult a cemeterian or attend a preservation workshop, these are often offered to interested individuals by local cemetery associations and genealogy societies.
Public Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Divorce Records
Genealogy Records