The first step to proper headstone preservation is educating yourself! Here are some vetted resources that can help you along the way.
The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Cemetery Cleanup Portal. It’s a great resource to find ways to help protect some of the nation’s oldest graves.
Ohio History Connection. Great resources and contact information.
Ohio Revolutionary War Veteran Grave Project. Ohio has one of the largest concentrations of Revolutionary War veteran graves, even though no battle was fought here. This website gives information on how you can get involved.
The Ohio Cemetery Association. Great information and resources for cemetery professionals, but a lot of good info for us volunteers, too.
The Association for Gravestone Studies. This may be one of my favorite resources for all things gravestone, including studies on epitaphs, workshops, etc. Definitely join!
Find-a-Grave. This open-source volunteer portal has a desktop website, but their app is where it’s at. It will help you find headstones, stories, GPS coordinates, pictures, etc. You can also upload information about the interred and fill others’ requests for information, too. All free. So useful.
Your local historical society or cemetery association. These are local volunteers, in your area, who also love cemeteries and have an investment in how they’re cared for. Join as a volunteer!
