Once more, we wish to thank you for helping AGP grow! 

1) Very Important andt has to be in the rules and clear. So it is the first rule.

NEVER use someone else’s photo you downloaded off of another site. AGP is not about that. AGP is about actually visiting the cemeteries personally photographing the headstone and accuracy.... We have not yet had this problem and I hope we never do.

2)  Multiple Names on one gravestone?

Have a family stone with multiple names? Or even a husband and wife shared stone? Even maybe one of those tall family obelisk like stones? Use the drop down menu for "associating" more than one name to that "one" headstone photo. You can add up to 10 names. Need 11 names? Add it again.

Here is some screen captures showing the drop down menu, used to "associate" more then one name to a shared or family stone photo.

Now we see, we chose two lines... say the wife's maiden name was smith? We would put Smith in the Maiden name box. The data base will automatically generate two listings for her. One with her married name and one with her maiden and married name, thus: Smith Adkisson, Cora Emma.

 Hope this helps...

3) Soldiers and Veterans:

Civil War/War of Northern Aggression:

Differences of the gravestones explained

Veterans of all wars and Civil War Veterans are most important to us at AGP. Here in Arkansas, more so Northen Arkansas, we see both CSA boys and so called Unionists. Most all Confederate States Army Veterans will say CSA on the stone. Unionists headstones of those who enlisted in a Union Arkansas regiment, don’t. Plus Arkansas Union Soldiers will have the standard inserted shield outline with the name and information within it. If in Doubt, email me but see the helpful links first.... try the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors system web page to search for them. Sometimes we can’t find them I know.... Also, if you find a Mexican War or Spanish American War Veteran we want to know about it! Post their name and cemetery  in the message section.

Here are some examples:

 Below: C.S.A.  Headstone for

Pvt. J. W. Craig

Co. B

Coffee's Arkansas Regiment

C.S.A.

Below: Arkansas soldier who enlisted in a Northern or Unionist Arkansas Regiment

Note it was CO A, 3rd Arkansas Cavalry. See the Shield?

This was Corp. James J. Churchill... his records on the CWSSS show his rank... umm, his rank out (mustered out) is Private.. But I used his Rank in (mustered in) status....

Note also the "Point" on the CSA stones.

4) More on Veterans:

We want to be a valuable resource for many. I mean, we have their

interments posted already.... We are editing the first name fields of known or obvious Veterans

so they become searchable from the main page search fields

You will see Interment pages come up with listings, like this:

McAlister, Robert Keith (CSA Veteran Pvt)

Smith, Bobby Ray (WWII Army Cpl)

Chandler, Milton (Unionist Veteran Pvt)

Unionists: PLEASE! No insult intended on these fellows, only way we
could think of to differentiate  them.  And yes, like many of us in Northern Arkansas  I
too had  so called  Unionists in my family, as well as many CSA boys... one
or two who were killed. (not going to get into politics here, honoring
ALL that fought in ALL wars is the point)

4A) Therefore, Arkansas Gravestone’s Policy is "If you post a Veteran, we reserve the right to Amend

the name to reflect they are a Veteran so they may be searchable as Veterans to any and all."

Now in the case the original poster does not desire this, respecting their wishes we

will remove that Veteran’s name from the data base, but you can bet we

will be getting someone else out there to photograph the headstone and

re-posting it.

5) "My  posts don't show up immediately what is wrong?"  True.... and nothing is wrong, they stay on hold until a AGP County Coordinator, or, an administrator "approves them." This eliminates spam, malicious pranks and catches errors....

6) Please..... when out graving... take something to record dates and names with... sometimes when uploading a photo and it is resized by the system the dates are not legible. Use the bio section for adding dates and other information. We need the information, DOB and DOD please. Browse at the other interment listings on the AGP main page for ideas.....

7) My rule.... or request if you will:

Never use chalk, pencil, magic markers... or anything foreign on a old headstone to enhance the lettering. Look at the helpful links page for the Association for Gravestones studies for more knowledge.  DO use tin foil... I have captured many a hard to read headstone lettering with tinfoil.. It is non-evasive, just press lightly with your fingers, sponge, or soft brush.... Also one may use use a mirror... shine its reflection from an angle to highlight hard to read lettering. Carry a spray water bottle. Spray a hard to read stone with water... I’ve used this method before too, with good results. (Please do not spray a headstone with water in the winter

Basically, on old stones... be careful! They are fragile and believe it or not, have their own tiny little chemical world within the porous stone... using chalk, magic markers, paint, ink and stuff can accelerate the stones deterioration chemically.

The rule I use is, don’t touch the dang thing! Hahahahahahahaha, and Never Never clean a old stone. However if you feel you must clean one of your own family headstones... use only WATER and a SOFT brush. Work from the bottom up to prevent staining. Rinse with plenty of water over and over. But I didn’t tell you it was ok....

8)  It is the Official policy of Arkansas Gravestones that the posting of SURNAMES of clearly or possibly still living persons will NOT BE ALLOWED.. If single headstones of folks are posted with no dates of death engraved on the headstone and they are say less than 100 years old they will be deleted and the contributor notified by email. Now, on shared headstones, many people (couples) now have their final arrangements all set including a shared headstone set and placed with dates of birth. If a spouse has passed on, it is perfectly fine to show the whole photo of the shared headstone, even when the photo shows the "name" of the still living person. What we are getting at is, we don’t want the "name" of the living to be "posted" as an interment so that they come up in a surname search. Back to the single headstones. A headstone itself does not a DEAD person make (A little humor). The exception to this is, if they are known to you personally to be deceased and they do not have a DOD engraved, or maybe you have access to records or documentation that confirms the death. If so, list your source at the bottom of the bio.  (I know this is going to the extreme here, but, one of my friends Grandmothers died April 10, 2008. She was 105 years old! Her husband passed on many years ago and they have a shared headstone. Her area on the stone of course listed her DOB only..... soon the be amended though. Just something to keep in the back of our minds.)

9) New Policy on Duplicates!  Only these explained below are Officially allowed and encouraged.
Again, Quoting Tom Helms:
“Inclusion of a military marker photo as a second record for an
individual is very appropriate. If the person's rank is known, that
designation is placed with the given name.”

Thus it is ok to post the civilian and/or perhaps shared gravestone, then
add the other military marker as a second and purposely duplicated
record.

In addition, take a family headstone, multiple names? It is encouraged
to post the main family stone photo  as “Smith Family Gravestone,
Memorial, Stone, Grave)” include all the names in the bio area if you
wish. Then proceed to add  the individual names, with close ups of the
headstone area of their name...

In some cases.... a overall photo and a second close up photo of the
same person (Purposeful Duplicate) is allowed, but the decision to
approve one or both is left up to individual County Coordinators. It
is their call, in the best  interest of the web site.

10) No FindaGrave references please.

We have been seeing some referencing to FindaGrave
in the bio area as a source. More so on a hard to read gravestone or
one that only has B.B. Smith. These folks have taken their own photo
but in some cases, they search the name on FindaGrave and post
information from that particular web site interment, Dates, full
names.... and cite the source as such in the bio area.  Please.... DO
NOT DO THIS? This is Official AGP Policy for now.
If you have done this, you are not a bad person, hahahahahahahahaha,
it is just something we do not wish to be done....We have many reasons
for this.  And yes I know FAG says it is ok by them.

This is not to say, not to cite any sources. 

Quite the opposite. Under US Fair Use Act... if you
have something interesting about a family, or individual, something
historic, Military information or a tragedy,  what ever........By all
means! Include a blurb about it and cite the source at the bottom.
Just not from FindaGrave please?

11) Funeral Home Markers (In case you weren't sure)

New Policy on Funeral Home Markers

Yes it is ok!
Quoting Tom Helms:
“I have included quite a few in my submissions. There are some that
may never have a stone and so, why not include the image of their
marker? There have been some photos that I have replaced when an
inscribed stone was placed (e.g., Jeremiah Ray Goza, Powhatan
Cemetery).  Jeremiah's grave was marked only with a funeral home
marker when I was there last spring; his cousin recently submitted the
image currently on line. Our goal is to document interments
irrespective of the type of marker ... even those UNKNOWNS whose
graves are marked with fieldstones. So, yes indeed, please submit
photos of funeral home markers.”

So FHM as well as “unknowns”... marked with field stones are perfectly
fine to post!

Always feel free to email me with a question. No question is stupid! Always remember that, ok?

I will update these rules as time goes on... So let me say

Rules are subject to change and supplemental additions.

Enjoy and happy "Graving"

Dennis Earle