Hey there fellow taphophiles! You totally just asked “what the hell is a taphophile?” Don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing – it’s actually kind of cool and a word I didn’t know existed until the last 12 months. A taphophile is someone who ‘has a passion for, and enjoyment of, cemeteries, epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of (famous) deaths’, and is also known as being a tombstone tourist. Essentially, if you kind of enjoy being in and exploring cemeteries, you’re a taphophile – welcome to the club! Cemetery exploring is one of my favourite hands-on genealogy activities, and it’s a really rewarding & sobering experience for family historians. But if you’re wondering how to get started on tracking down your ancestors, here’s a handy little guide to help you out. It’s really easy to start tracking down the resting place of your ancestor’s in-person. Of course, there are online databases like Find A Grave and BillionGraves that allows you to visit these burial sites virtually, which is great during the current climate and for locations that are outside how far you’re willing to travel, but there’s nothing like getting your feet on the ground and exploring in-person. Over the past several years, I've gone on what I like to call 'family history tours', where I visit the areas where my ancestors lived, worked and died. While exploring the cemeteries in these locations in the main objective, I'll also check out former houses, workplaces and churches if I have this information. Plus, it's just nice to explore these towns, check out the touristy things and imagine what the area would have looked like when my ancestors where there. I really recommend trying to plan trips like this and make an occasion of the whole thing, rather than just a visit to the cemetery. Have a list of names & locations For each cemetery you are planning on visiting, have a list of names of the people you know are buried there, or who could possibly be buried there. This could be as specific as the exact plot or as general as which denominational area they are buried in. You don’t have to have these specifics, but it certainly makes your search a lot easier if you have a general idea where to look. To get specific details, it’s a good idea to get in contact with the local council, cemetery trust or historical society as they will, or should have, detailed burial records that will tell you exactly where someone is buried. Ensure Your Camera Is Fully-Charged There’s is nothing worse than your camera or phone running out of charge midway through your exploration, so make sure your devices are fully-charged, and that you have extra batteries or a car charger. And also make sure you have plenty of space on you SD card(s) or device. Have comfortable footwear Take or wear comfortable footwear that will work in all weather and terrains. A lot of cemeteries, and in particular the older sections, can have uneven ground, be muddy in wet weather, or overgrown with weeds, so make sure you consider this when planning your outfit. It’s definitely a good idea to take a change of shoes, especially if you may be visiting during a wet time – speaking from experience, it can be an absolute pain to have muddy and/or wet shoes and nothing to change into. Bring pencils & paper Take some pencils and paper, which are not only good for taking notes (pencil doesn’t run if the paper gets wet), but are also handy for sketching or drawing headstone elements. Plus, you can also practice some careful headstone rubbing if need be, but do check if this is allowed at the cemeteries you will be visiting – different cemeteries, areas and countries have different rules, so it’s important to see what the rules are for your specific area. Photos to take It’s important to take several different types of photos at each cemetery and burial:
It’s also a really great idea to have a list of surnames in your family tree that could possibly be buried in the cemeteries you’re visiting, particularly if that branch of the family has a strong connection to the area. If you spot these surnames, take photos of these burials too, even if you don’t have evidence of them being in your tree, yet – it’s better to have to delete photos of people who you discover aren’t related than to later realise you should have taken the photo while you were there. Speaking from experience, I ended up discovering that my 4th great uncle and aunt were buried at a cemetery I had recently visited, but because I photographed a bunch of additional burials, I ended up already having their burial photos without even knowing they were actually in my family tree. Share your photos Contribute to websites like Find A Grave and BillionGraves so that the entire genealogy community can benefit. This is especially important if you already use these databases – they’re only the great resource they are because of volunteers, so make sure you do you bit and give back! And speaking of these databases, have their apps on your phone while you’re exploring these cemeteries and check if there are photo requests you might be able to fulfil during your visit – you’ll be helping other family historians while working through your own list. What if there is a funeral taking place? Honestly, it is up to you if you are comfortable with exploring a cemetery while there is a funeral taking place. It all depends on the size of the cemetery, where you’ll be looking, and if you know specifically where someone is buried or if you’re going to have to wander around looking for them. It might be a good idea to check funeral notices for the time you’ll be visiting so you can plan your trip accordingly. I’ve really enjoyed the cemetery expeditions that I’ve already been on, and there are still plenty of cemeteries that I need to plan trips for. Whether you’re just planning on visiting one cemetery, or are planning out a whole family history weekend/holiday, there’s something so peaceful about wandering through the rows of burials and finding the final resting place of your ancestors.
If you haven’t had the chance to visit a cemetery or hadn’t really given it a thought in your research, I highly recommend starting to plan a trip and getting your feet on the ground. Happy exploring! Victoria :) |
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