Designing a Preservation Plan for a Historic Cemetery

The preservation of a cemetery or burial ground requires careful planning. In cemetery preservation projects there is often the impulse to rush to treatment. Before any work is carried out, first document, assess, research and prioritize. Helpful resources are available on-line and in print.

Encroaching tree emperils monument Encroaching tree emperils monument.

Document

Cemeteries are fragile; markers and inscriptions can disappear over time and there may be losses due to vandalism, weathering and damage. Establish a record of the resource in order to have baseline data. On a survey sheet document each grave site, including monuments and other features such as footstones, curbing, cornerstones, fences, plantings and overhanging trees. List the types of stone and other materials, and assess the condition, noting damage, deterioration, vegetation overgrowth and any drainage problems. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training website has a useful glossary for cemetery assessment.

Photograph the features and record inscriptions. Volunteers can accomplish the work, ideally after training to ensure consistency in the data collected. Document and assess the condition of all other features throughout the cemetery such as planters, benches, fencing, walls, paths, and roadways. Document trees and plants, many of which may be historic and original to the site. Enlist a horticultural or garden club for identification and to provide sound landscape management advice.

 

Research

Check land records and archives to learn about the history of the site and its associations, the people buried there, changes over time and boundaries. Burial sites can extend beyond marked graves. For research assistance, see the guide to history research on the Maryland State Archives website.

Interpret

Cemeteries and burial grounds demonstrate our cultural values and heritage. As educational resources in the community, they can be integrated into the curriculum at all levels in areas such as science, math, art, history and social studies. Involve the community in preservation activities.

Unwise repair attempt Unwise repair attempt.

Prioritize

With the collected data, set priorities for work. Place high risk items, such as leaning monuments and dead trees, ahead of cosmetic. Build in provisions for long term maintenance. The repair and treatment of monuments should be the final steps in the project. Cleaning is a low priority; it is often not necessary and has the potential to cause damage. Respect the historic configuration and appearance of the cemetery; for example, it may not be appropriate to introduce fencing if the site was not fenced historically.

Seek Professional Assistance

Cemetery preservation professionals are available to help with all levels of the project, including planning, documentation, survey and treatment. Enlist the help of professionals with experience in appropriate treatments for historic materials. Only trained conservators should repair monuments and sculpture. Ask if they are members of professional organizations such as the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). Ask if they are insured. Require a written proposal detailed with work to be done, materials to be used and references prior to hiring. Call all references. Proposed work should conform to the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice; note the sections on preventive conservation, treatment and documentation. See also the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Cleaning a cemetery  

Obtain Training

Seek out training opportunities for all aspects of the preservation project. Learn to distinguish work that can be done by volunteers from that which requires professional expertise. Provide training in appropriate landscape practices to work crews. Avoid overuse of herbicides, as historic plants may be lost, bare soil around monuments would cause instability, and the chemicals could damage the stones. Hand clear, or use herbicides selectively on invasives such as poison ivy. Power mowers and trimmers can leave scars on stone and ironwork; trimming is best done by hand.

Maintain

Build provisions for maintenance into the preservation plan in order to avoid wasted effort and expense. Establish a routine to monitor the site, record conditions and note where repairs are needed. Set realistic priorities for maintenance; for example, where it may not be possible or historically appropriate to keep a large site mowed, paths could be maintained to provide access, with overall mowing done less often.

A Few Words About Cleaning Headstones

  • Cleaning is often not necessary and has the potential to cause damage. Do not clean or scrub marble or other stone that is crumbling or sugared (if grains of sand fall away when a hand is passed over the surface).
  • Use the gentlest means: lots of water only and a soft, non-metallic brush that you would use on your car. Keep the stone wet. Under-clean rather than over-clean.
  • Never use bleach, household or abrasive cleaners, trisodium phospate (TSP), alkaline cleaners, acids, power washers, power tools, or sand blasting. Bleach and TSP introduce salts, which damage the stone and cause spalling. Water is safest.
  • Stone acquires a usually harmless patina over time. Regular cleanings can result in loss of surface. Do not scrub down to a clean new surface, as this only provides a fresh place for biota to regrow.
  • To safely clean biota from all types of stone, proprietary architectural biocides are available. These kill biota and provide a long-term residual effect; examples are D/2 or Enviro Kleen ReVive). Mix as directed, spray on the surface, and do not scrub. Biota will die and the stone will lighten up over time with weather.
  • In most cases, an occasional rinsing of stones with a garden hose at low pressure will keep soil and plant particles from taking hold and providing food for biota to grow.