How comprehensive is your tombstone vocabulary?

One of the elements to successful research in any topic is the ability to find resources. As genealogists we all know that the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon is going to explore "marble orchards". We read the inscriptions, we learn of family tragedy, we learn about where people came from and above all we are reminded of our own mortal existence - what have we done to leave our mark, have we made arrangements for our own tombstones? In other words what did we do with our time between the beginning date and the end date?

We always appreciate finding lists of tombstones for our family members compiled by fellow genealogists from all over the world - so many of us pay it forward by transcribing and or photographing local cemeteries near our home.

Having said that - how would you find these records at a library or on-line? The following list is compiled from publication titles on deposit at the Library of Congress in Washington, and the Toronto Reference Library here in downtown Toronto. Just remember that the record you are looking for could be found under any of these (or other!) headings ...

Cemetery inscriptions

Cemetery transcriptions

Gravestone inscriptions

Gravestone transcriptions

Memorial inscriptions

Monumental inscriptions

Monumental transcriptions

Tombstone inscriptions

Burying ground monumental inscriptions.

and my personal favorite - Sepulchral monuments

So, enjoy the journey into this dead topic ... and remember one day you too could be the proud owner of a bumper sticker that reads: "This vehicle stops at all cemeteries".