Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-10-16
1GENEALOGY

All communications TO this depart
ment should be addressed to tho
secretary of the society. Elder Joseph
F. Smith Jr., Care OF historians Of
flee. Salt Lake City, Utah.
COPYING INSCRIPTIONS FROM
CEMET ERIES.
II may seem to us here I'm this new
country, that there could be little need
of going out into cemeteries in order
TO copy the inscriptions on the head
stones. But as a matter OF fact II
would surprise many to find how often
records are not kept. amongst this
people or are lost. or only imperfect
~ recorded. So that il would surely
be of infinite value when we go out
to the city Of the dead, TO examine
closely all the family inscriptions. 10
copy them and file away such copies
for future use. II is appalling 10 dis
cover the condition OF some OF our
ward records. especially in the early
days. and IN nifty or one hundred
years from now our descendants viii
be as anxiously searching for our re-
cords as we are now peering into the
past. Therefore, II will be of interest
TO copy In this department
the circular OF instructions
which was issued by that
mother OF all genealogical societies,
the New England Genealogical society.
on this subject. Many hints will be
CLEANED from the following which viii
be OF great value to those who wish
to copy Inscriptions in old country
graveyards. The circular reads:
Systematic and accurate copies OF
inscriptions in old graveyards should
be made because on the stones are
many names and dates not elsewhere
recorded. When a stone disappears the
record Is lost. Furthermore, many
graveyards containing valuable re-
cords are not easily accessible, and by
means OF copies Of the inscriptions
the searchers have at hand the de-
sired facts. A comparison OF the
manuscript copies In the library
OF the society with the print
ed vital records OF towns
shows that the proportion OF facts
found only In inscriptions does not
fall below 20 per cent, and frequently
reaches 40 and 80 per cent, OF all
recorded deaths Where town records
are especially imperfect for certain
periods, or where they have been de-
strOyed. or where tho law has not
required such records 20 be kept, the
Inscriptions are about the only au-
thority.
The society relies for copies on the
cooperation Of those who are interest
Ed IN preserving the tAcNs on the an
Client memorials. To facilitate this work
by suggesting methods this circular
embOdying the results Of experience
has been prepared.
There are three methods OF making
copies OF inscriptions for preservation
which seem 10 the committee 20 be
practical. and one must be guided IN
the choice by the amount Of time at
disposal The most satisfactory method
Is that which shows the inscription a.
n IL on the stone. The arrangement OF
the lines. the style Of lettering, the
spelling. the mortuary verse, ns well
a. the stone cutters crudlties and
evident errors can be shown, and the
result ia such that confidence IN lis
accuracy Il established on sight, This
method II not recommended unless one
has ample time. The need for copies Is
too great 10 warrant postponing the
copying until the intending coryist
may have all the time thought 20 be
needed
Sometimes the arrangement of the
lines Is shown without any attempt
being made 20 indicate the style Of let
tering the inscription being copied In
a running hand.
Nv another method NAV be shown
| niore .ompactiy al that Il on the
stone The vertical marks indicate the
length 81 the lines.
In memory ofMr. Ebenezer Giibart
died May Al, 1906, Ia the 18th year Of
his age.
MY ashes sleep beneath this stone
/ nv soul has taken flight and gone
| From all the sorrow toll and strife
! Assigned 10 mortal man la life.