Holly.  First time I've heard of this technique... thanks for sharing!  Ron

Holly Wilhelm wrote:

>In a message dated 4/17/2006 11:28:52 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>I've been told not to put anything -- flour, shaving cream, etc. -- on a
>tombstone, as it may add to the deterioration.  Also, I've heard that you
>never, never take a tombstone rubbing, because that, too, may cause damage.
>Take a photo of the stone, and view the photo in black and white -- that
>oftem brings out the subtleties of the writing on the stone.
>Phebe,
>
>Jean is correct.  Nothing should ever be applied to a stone.  Even rubbings,
>however gentle, are abrasive to the stone.  There is no need to add to the
>ravages of Mother Nature when we have far better alternative available.
>
>Some years back I took a crash course in cemetery preservation through the
>Historic Preservation program at Mary Washington College (does that tell you
>it's been awhile?).  There we were taught a technique that does not require _any_
>physical contact with a stone or require putting anything on it.
>
>At best it takes two people, always a good idea when out in the wilds anyway.
> One hold a camera, another a mirror.  The one with the mirror adjusts the
>reflection to create a light over the stone at an acute angle.  The best angle
>is not always the same because the sun is not always in the same place.  If the
>sun is not strong enough, and actually it doesn't need to be very strong, a
>flashlight can be added to add light to the reflection.  When you've gotten a
>good contrast between the stone's depth of carving and the reflective light.
>take your picture.  (Don't use the flash...)
>
>Since then, when touring cemeteries in places that are dedicated to
>preservation, I have seen cemetery guides demonstrate this technique as well.  Nobody
>ever believed it worked until it was demonstrated.  Once demonstrated, it was
>clear that the technique worked far better than imagined, and much better than
>chemical application techniques.
>
>See www.gravestonestudies.org/faq.htm
>
>Please don't touch the stones or put anything on them!
>
>
>
>Holly Wilhelm Mills, M.A., M.L.S.
>Amherst, Virginia
>
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