November Book Review
Each month we review one of the books from our Genealogy Book Store powered by Amazon.com.
If you are interested in having us review a specific book in an upcoming edition please contact us.
This month we are reviewing Your Guide to Cemetery Research by Sharon Debartolo Carmack.
Overall we liked this book alot. It is an excellent introductory primer to the subject
of cemetery research. Here are what some readers had to say:
"A must read for all of us who take great pleasure in hanging out in cemeteries,
clipboard and camera in hand. This book shares information on locating death and cemetery record
that was new to me and may be new to you as well. Beginning with "Records of Death", Sharon outlines a
variety of sources for death information. Autopsy records, Family Bibles (and lots of ways to find these!), Bodies
in Transit records, Burial Permits, and Coroner's Records are only a few of the topics included."
"In discussing death certificates, a contribution by Katherine Scott Sturdevant proves that
our belief that death certificates are primary proof of the cause of death may often be wrong! (See pages 22-23.) I also
learned in this chapter that rural dwellers without access to a stone carver could order a tombstone
from a mail-order catalog, Sears-Roebuck being one example!"
"Since summer is one of our favorite cemetery visiting times, the chapter on "Searching A Cemetery" is very
timely. From the necessity to take along bug repellant to ways to analyze headstones, this chapter
will help you get the most from your cemetery visit. Sharon also gives safe methods for making tombstone rubbings and casts."
"Very helpful chapters are included on ethnic and religious burial customs which are critical
in understanding the burials you encounter. American burial customs are also covered. Appendices
offer great information on gravestone art, epidemics, and medical terms."
"The book is also very entertaining. Betterway Books are always well put together with lots of tips,
reminders, quotations, and "this happened to me" stories. The photographs and illustrations are excellent,
presenting a variety of tombstone styles and examples of records. Throughout the book, you can hear Sharon's
voice, and the voices of contributors, sharing the joys and tribulations of genealogists on the hunt. This
is a first class book and well worth owning."
Your Guide to Cemetery Research by Sharon Debartolo Carmack can be found in our bookstore.
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