?Planning to visit cemetery - What tools?
Michael Horowitz
and great-grandmothers. One is buried at Beth David(Elmont) the other
at Mr. Carmel (new). My plan is to photograph and or do a rubbing of
the stone so (assuming it is written in hebrew) I can get it
translated when I return home.
Question 1. Photograph of site - What do i need to bring to get the
most readable image? any tricks to shooting ?
Question 2. Rubbings - Any trick to doing a rubbing? any problems if
the inscription is raised vice carved?
Question 3. It is a reasonable bet the next grave site over is a
spouse or other family memer. What other hints can someone more
experienced provide?
Thanks in advance - Mike
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Diane Jacobs
l. Make sure the sun is in back of your when you photograph. Take
the photo so that all the written words are in the viewfinder and nothing
else.
2. If you relative is buried in a landsmant plot, I would suggest that you
make a list of all the people buried there by walking around each grave
and writing down the names. If you find anyone with a possible connection
then take a picture and/or write down all the information.
3. Pick a cool day and bring drink and snacks as there may be many plots.
I found my greataunt when visiting my grandparents' graves in Beth David.
Good luck.
Diane Glazer Jacobs
New York
>I'm beginning to make plans for visiting the plots of both my grand
>and great-grandmothers. One is buried at Beth David(Elmont) the other
>at Mr. Carmel (new). My plan is to photograph and or do a rubbing of
>the stone so (assuming it is written in hebrew) I can get it
>translated when I return home.
>Question 1. Photograph of site - What do i need to bring to get the
>most readable image? any tricks to shooting ?
>
>Question 2. Rubbings - Any trick to doing a rubbing? any problems if
>the inscription is raised vice carved?
>
>Question 3. It is a reasonable bet the next grave site over is a
>spouse or other family memer. What other hints can someone more
>experienced provide?
>
>Thanks in advance - Mike
mailto:kin...@ix.netcom.com
WHirsch869
>Question 2. Rubbings - Any trick to doing a rubbing? any problems if
>the inscription is raised vice carved?
You probably won't find any raised lettering, it is generally not permitted on
Jewish gravestones. Rubbing an old stone can be harmful to the stone,
depending on its condition, type of stone, and age. If you insist on rubbing,
most art stores carry the necessary paper and crayons, and often booklets that
describe the procedure. You may find some hints at:
http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/dodont.htm
>Question 3. It is a reasonable bet the next grave site over is a
>spouse or other family memer. What other hints can someone more
>experienced provide?
Depending on how the cemetery is laid out, a spouse could be most anywhere.
Obviously if the cemetery had family plots, they might well be together. Some
of the older cemeteries did not bury males and females in the same row and
often a spouse would be close to his/her mate but in either the row in front or
in back of the other. If a long period of time lapsed between the two deaths
they might be far removed from one another. I have seen some cemeteries where
the entire cemetery is divided into two parts - one male and one female. There
are also cemeteries where most of the graves are purely chronological in order
of death and may or may not be separated by sex.
Photographing a stone is often much more rewarding than rubbing it. Try to
take the picture when the sun is directly overhead but slightly in front of the
stone. If the stone faces north or south, a good picture can also usually be
taken in the early morning or late afternoon if the sun is in front of the
stone. **Do not use flash**, the lighting will be straight on and will eliminate
all shadows, or, if the stone is polished, you will get a glaring reflection of
the flash. The whole idea is simply to get as contrasting an image as possible
between the engraving and its shadow. I have also successfully photograhed
stones at night (eliminating all unwanted light sources) using a flash that's
removable from the camera and placing it in front of but to the side of the
stone. For an example of night photography, see:
http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/minna.htm
Another *big*
advantage of a photograph is that you can stare at it for as many
hours as you wish...in comfort. I have successfully deciphered stones that
appeared completely illegible by taking a photo of it and looking at it long
enough until some of the letters begin to take shape and become recognizable.
An example of such a stone is that of Isaac Moses which no one was able to
read. After taking a picture with as much contrast as possible and then
staring at it until some letters became visible, I slightly darkened them in
with pencil on an 8X10 matte print. After a while I was able to read the
entire stone. See the "retouched" photo at:
http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/moses.htm
When visiting a cemetery I usually bring grass clippers and a soft brush or
dust broom to clean a stone and to remove any weeds that may be in the way. A
small garden trowel may also be useful to dig arund the stone if it has sunk
into the ground. I would not advise any major digging though, or clipping of
bushes etc. without first clearing this with the person in charge of the
cemetery. Sometimes wetting a stone helps to read it, and for this,
I carry a spray
bottle filled with *only* water. **Don't use any other
sprays or liquids** since the chemicals in them might harm the stone.
I hope that all this helps you a little. It would also help you to try some of
these techniques closer to home and study your results before visiting a far
off site. Good luck.
Werner
--
Werner S. Hirsch, Curator, Jewish Historical Soc. of Gr. New Haven (CT)
JHS Website: http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/
MODERATOR NOTE: Unable to get the following URL to work but decided to
post anyway Http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/minna.htm The other all work.
mailto:
WHirsch869
(WHirsch869) writes:
> For an example of night photography, see:
>http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/minna.htm
I apologize to everyone for giving an incorrect URL in that message, which
talked about photographing gravestones, and I hope that none of you were
overly inconvenienced. I thank the Moderator for pointing out my error
(next week I'll klop and extra Al Cheyt). :-}>
The correct URL is:
http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/minna.jpg
My best wishes to all for a Shana Tova u'Metuka, a happy and healthy New
Year, and may all of our roots go just a little deeper as we go into the
next millenium, and may there be more of us around to enjoy the fruits of
our trees!
If I may, I'd also like to express my gratitude to the Moderators,
officers, staff, voluteers, and members of JewishGen for making it one of
the best genealogy lists and databanks on the Web. THANK YOU!
Sincerely,
Werner
--
Werner S. Hirsch, Curator, Jewish Historical Soc. of Gr. New Haven (CT)
Alg...@aol.com
We found our ancestors' graves overgrown with ivy too thick to clear by hand.
Also, lots of water and paper towels to wash off the stones in order to get a
better picture.
>What other hints can someone more experienced provide?
Make sure you "check in" at the office. They usually have a list of all the
graves and can save you time, by directing you to where the graves are
located, that you are researching. Bring along the names of cousins, aunts,
uncles, in-laws and ask about them, also, at the office. Families tend to
use the same cemeteries for various branches of the family.
Don't forget a Memorial book and Yarmulkas to say the Kaddish. You are doing
a Mitzvah. And, of course, stones to leave on the graves.
Good luck. You will find that it is *quite* an emotional experience.
Barbara Algaze
Los Angeles, California
>I'm beginning to make plans for visiting the plots of both my grand
>and great-grandmothers. One is buried at Beth David(Elmont) the other
>at Mr. Carmel (new). My plan is to photograph and or do a rubbing of
>the stone so (assuming it is written in hebrew) I can get it
>translated when I return home.
mailto:Alg...@aol.com
Hilary Henkin
including the rubbings. Very exciting!
I found photographing my tombstones, even those from the 1920's,
to be very simple. They hardly looked worn at all. The exception
was a sandstone tombstone for an uncle of mine who died at the
age of 2. Apparently many baby's tombstones were made from the
cheaper sandstone, which erodes relatively fast. The photo is no
worse than than being there, and neither were very legible. I
just used my point-and-shoot camera, and the photos were fine.
Of course, be close, and as "straight-on" as you can. In some
cases I took a far view to show surroundings, and a near view to
read the stones.
As for rubbings, I had two requirements: "simple" and
"non-smudging". I used two kinds of paper from the art supply
store, in big (24" x 36") sheets: a thin vellum, and a vegetable
parchment.
I liked the vellum better, since it was a bit thinner, but both
worked fine. Both are stiffer than the commonly-used rice paper.
I carried the paper in a tube, so it wouldn't crease. (The tube
even fit in my suitcase!)
I bought black "lumber crayons" at Home Depot. They're just like
jumbo elementary school crayons, but a bit harder. You may have
to ask and look closely - the clerks there had little idea what I
was talking about. (A "real" lumberyard should be more
knowledgeable). I tore the paper wrap off, and used the side of
the crayon to rub against the stone. I've heard of using
charcoal, but it smears badly, and must be sprayed with a
fixative immediately - one more thing to carry. Chalks and
pastels have the same problem.
Wanna be creative? Bring a couple of regular colored crayons,
and add a bit of copper or gold or green or blue....
Carvings with the background carved away (instead of the letters
being carved in) were a bit harder to do, but still worked fine.
The actual rubbing. I held the paper in place, or had someone
else hold it,and just rubbed over the entire surface. Very
easy. I didn't need to tape the paper down, and it took only a
couple of minutes per stone. Piece of cake.
Have a good time!
Hilary Henkin
Atlanta, Georgia USA
PS - please don't use shaving cream or anything else which could
damage the stone, to bring out the letters on a worn carving.
Try mirrors, or shifting your angle, or a different time of day.
I've also heard of making a block of plaster of paris and rubbing
that gently over the stone. It washes away at the first rain.
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