Top 10 Genealogist's Cemetery Toolkit Essentials

Anything from the line of Sony Digital8 camcorders will please your favorite genealogist, but the DCR-TRV330 gives you the best bang for the buck. The video camera allows you to record digital video onto inexpensive standard Hi8/8mm tape, take digital photos and connect to a PC for digital video and photo editing. It's a cemetery researcher's camera, tape recorder and notepad all rolled into one!

Sturdy boots or trail shoes are a must for genealogists. Look for boots with a rugged sole for traction and good foot/ankle support for trekking across uneven cemetery terrain. If you want lightweight and inexpensive then the Solomon Exit Low is a favorite of many day hikers. If you need more ankle support and a waterproof lining, then the Solomon Exit Mid should meet your needs.

The ultimate gadget for a serious genealogist, this small, inexpensive hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver makes it easier to find and map cemeteries. It can determine your position on earth within 50 feet at any time, is rugged, waterproof and retails for around $100 US. Compatible with a variety of mapping software.

This small, lightweight, weatherproof camera is perfect for visits to the cemetery! Its 38mm to 80mm zoom lens allows for everything from pictures of the entire cemetery, to close-ups of individual tombstone inscriptions. It also has an optional remote control that can operate the camera from up to 16 feet away so you can get in the picture with your ancestors!

While cameras and video cameras are great inventions, don't rely on them alone for recording information in the cemetery. Cameras malfunction and photographs fade. Just about any paper will do for recording information carefully and completely, but I especially like Composition Notebooks when taking notes in the cemetery.

All cemetery researchers need a good pair of pruners / clippers for trimming back overgrown brush and weeds and Felco pruners are the "standard by which all other pruners are measured." Small, comfortable and ergonomic, these pruners will quickly become a favorite!

Plain water, rags and a soft nylon brush are the items of choice for cleaning tombstones. Choose a brush, such as a kitchen scrub brush, with an easy-to-grasp handle and soft nylon bristles. No wire brushes - they can damage tombstones! Clean the tombstone from bottom to top to avoid further streaking or staining, rinsing well as you go.

Soft non-fusible Pellon interfacing material is perfect for tombstone rubbings. It folds neatly in a bag without wrinkles, takes crayon beautifully and can even be ironed when you get back home to melt the wax into the fabric and preserve the rubbing for years to come. It is readily available from your local fabric store. Be sure to get the non-fusible variety!

An inexpensive alternative to rubbing wax for tombstone rubbings is a jumbo crayon, such as the ones used by young children. Peel the paper off of the crayons (your toddler can probably do this quicker than you can) and use the side of the crayon for your rubbing, rather than the point.

Professional genealogist Sharon DeBartolo Carmack shares her expertise in this easy-to-read book which covers all aspects of cemetery research, from cemetery symbolism to tips for creating beautiful tombstone rubbings.