This was something my grandmother did when I was a kid. It's been close to 30 years since I've tried it. Last year, I ordered a stone-rubbing kit, but didn't do anything with it except lose one of the pieces. I also ordered the video linked below. On an overcast Sunday, in late April '06, I took the "boughten" kit and the other items I'd assembled, and headed to a local cemetery.

It was a real learning experience. First off, it's quite physical work. And time-consuming, if you do it right. Two major things to take with you: sunscreen and drinking water. I remembered the first, and attempted to get the second, but the store had NONE in stock. Not even in the machines outside. I figured I wouldn't be that long, but I was mistaken! Even on a cool, overcast day, I got a little dehydrated. Pictures from my first attempts are at the bottom of the page.

The most important thing to remember is to do no harm to the stones! Check out some of the resources below for tips about how to clean them (plain water only), etc.. Common sense plays a part too -- don't touch stones that are leaning, crumbling, or have been patched together. Take a camera too, and just photograph any stones that might be jeopardized by rubbing.

Resources:

• Saving Graves (website). A good resource for how-to and a list of items needed. Basically, you could print out this and its supporting pages, and you'd be pretty much good to go.
• Cryptic Clues in the Boneyard (video). I have this in my collection, and found it to be quite interesting. Helpful because it shows you how to build a complete kit without spending a ton of money. The benefit to the video over a website is that you can watch someone do a rubbing. (Note: this is the only site I could find that still had this tape.)
• There are stone-rubbing kits available. The one I purchased had 5 sheets of special paper, 2 cakes of very hard rubbing wax, a roll of low-tack masking tape and a soft bristle brush.
• Cyndi's List - a list of cemeteries & funeral homes. Intended for geneologists who want to find a particular grave; however, there may be resources that will help you find a good cemetery to visit.

Pictures & Comments:

First, pack your bag. A great comprehensive list is available in the resources. My first trip included the items pictured above. Also, make sure to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and take a big bottle of water!	This rubbing wax came with the kit I purchased, but you can make your own by melting down crayons (see resources) or peeling the paper off a giant toddler crayon. This commercial wax is very hard. I'd like to experiment with different types.

After selecting the stone, very carefully clean it, using a soft, soft brush and plain, clean water ONLY. Make a note (or photograph) of details like cemetery name, name on stone, date, etc.	Cover the stone with your paper. This is special paper that came with the kit. When it's gone, I'll use pellon from the fabric store. Use low-tack masking tape and wrap the paper around the edges and tape on the back. Make sure the paper extends past any place you want to rub - don't risk getting any wax on the stone.
Originally, this cemetery was very, very Baptist. Even if the sign didn't explain it, you could tell by the fact that on the vast majority of the older stones, the women didn't have last names. They were "Jane, wife of John Smith," never "Jane Smith." That's why I picked these two to work on for my first try. It helped that Reed (Abigail's stone) is a family name, and she died near Halloween. Since I'll probably be framing this and using it as part of my Halloween decor, it was a helpful coincidence. But essentially, I selected two stones that were in good shape that denied the women their own last names.

Start rubbing (see resources for tips). The image will start to appear.

Keep rubbing, until the image is clear and as dark as you'd like it. Carefully remove the tape and roll up the rubbing. See resources for care & handling of the rubbing after you get it home. On the second example (Elizabeth's), the stone had some extra detail that made it difficult to fit the paper tightly around the sides. It still worked, but it was touchy. These aren't perfect - not by a long shot - but I'm happy with my first attempts.

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