In the days before funeral limousines, hearses and funeral homes, our ancestors were dying off and being buried in cemeteries. These cemeteries are either older parts of existing cemeteries or they are old cemeteries that no longer take internments. But if you’ve seen the tombstones from these older burials, you can barely read them.
That’s where The Tombstone Transcription Project comes in. This is a unique project in which a group of volunteers “work together to create a lasting tribute to our ancestors.” They do this by transcribing the tombstone inscriptions and archiving them for future generations when the weather and time make those old tombstones unreadable.
Unfortunately, many of these old tombstones are already so worn and withered that they are impossible to read. Since record-keeping wasn’t as common or efficient as it is today, the story of people buried beneath those “impossible to read” stones is virtually indecipherable and gone. By working on this project now, we can all help preserve these stories and memorials of the people who lived before us and made the world what it was and is.
What’s even more interesting about this project is that you can help, too! Regardless of where you live, you can visit a local cemetery where stones are beginning to fade and record those inscriptions. You can even make a fun outing with your local church or even your family. It’s a great way to learn about the past and appreciating the artifacts and people that arose out of our history. You can find more information about registering your transcriptions here.
Why not help become a part of history? Join The Tombstone Transcription Project today!
