Reading and Preserving Gravestones
| I. What not to do to Gravestones | II. Reading Gravestones | III. Cemetery Preservation |
III - Cemetery Preservation
The preservation / conservation of gravestones and cemeteries is as important as preserving any item of historical value. As with other historical items, the proper employment of correct procedures and techniques will help ensure the the gravestones will be available for future generations.
We are deeply indebted to the Town of Henderson, Eric Anderson (Town of Henderson Historian) and John Appell for the excellent 2-day workshop on gravestone preservation. Rather that duplicate the information that was presented during the course and is available on the internet, we invite you to visit the following sites. Each offers valuable insights on how to properly conserve cemeteries and gravestones.
Cemetery Preservation Links
- Gravestone Conservation - Jonathan Appell's site - An excellent source for gravestone conservation
- Gravestone Preservation - New England Cemetery Services
- Graveyard Preservation - New York State Historic Preservation Office
- Conservation Topics - Connecticut Gravestone Network
- Cleaning and Preservation of Tombstones - Everlife Memorial
- Cemetery Monument Conservation - National Park Service
- Cathedral Stone Products - source of D2 - the best solution for removing biological material
- Conservation Tools and Supplies
| I. What not to do to Gravestones | II. Reading Gravestones | III. Cemetery Preservation |