| Cemetery Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation? Our family cemetery is more than 100 years old. Does it qualify for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation? How long does the designation process take? What types of historical markers are available for cemeteries in Texas? Is there grant money or funding available to restore cemeteries? How do I clean my relatives' gravestones? The inscriptions are very dirty and difficult to read. Why should we develop a master plan for our historic cemetery? Q. How do I apply for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation? You need to complete a four-page application and include: black and white photographs, short history of the cemetery and map showing the cemetery and surrounding property. Also include a $25 processing fee. Mail material directly to the History Programs Division of the Texas Historical Commission for review and processing. Download the Historic Texas Cemetery Designation Guidelines for instructions and an application, or request this information by writing to the History Programs Division, P.O. Box 12276, Austin, TX 78711-2276; by phone at 512/463-5853; by fax at 512/475-3122; or by email at history@thc.state.tx.us. This simple process results in recognition of the cemetery as a historic site, the recording of the cemetery in the appropriate county clerk's office and the incentive for collecting material on historic cemeteries in your community. Q. Our family cemetery is more than 100 years old. Does it qualify for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation? Age alone does not make a cemetery eligible. The requirements of the program are that the cemetery be at least 50 years old and be documented through the HTC designation application and attachments that include a narrative history of the cemetery, black and white photographs, and information from which to generate a map showing its boundaries and location. Back to Top The designation does not require the cemetery association or family members to submit for review any proposed cemetery work, however, we are willing to review any plans and provide technical advice on a proposed preservation/restoration project in the cemetery. Back to Top The designation process depends on several variables. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) strongly suggests that the initial application and attachments be as complete as possible. You may be asked to provide more information or to clarify submitted material. Please respond as soon as possible to keep the designation process moving forward. When you receive the Affidavit of Dedication for Cemetery Purposes from the THC, either you or your representative should record this document in the appropriate county clerk's office as soon as possible and return a copy to the THC of the recorded document, showing the volume and page numbers or, in some cases, the document number. The cemetery is not designated until we receive this documentation. Q. What types of historical markers are available for cemeteries in Texas? Originally, the THC subject marker could be used to mark historic cemeteries, providing the visitor with a narrative history of the cemetery. In 1997, the THC developed a program to record cemeteries in the county deed records. The designation includes the option of placing markers, in the form of the Historic Texas Cemetery medallion and several types of plaques, at the site; however, the purchase of a cemetery medallion or plaque is not required under this new program. Please view our marker program pages for more information. See the cemetery designation guidelines for more information. Q. Is there grant money or funding available to restore cemeteries? Unfortunately, the cemetery program does not have a grant program administrated by the Texas Historical Commission. We are aware of this need and are exploring ways to fund a grant program. See pages 15 and 16 of Preserving Historic Cemeteries for more information on grant funding for cemeteries. Q. How do I clean my relatives' gravestones? The inscriptions are very dirty and difficult to read. The method used for cleaning a gravestone should be carefully evaluated as to its effect on the stone. Cleaning to remove dirt and growth, such as lichen, may be necessary to read the information on the gravestone and to extend the life of the stone. Cleaning for the sake of making the stone look new is strongly discouraged. Gravestones are like antiques and should not be over-cleaned. Unnecessary or inappropriate cleaning treatments can damage historic gravestones. The use of sandblasting and other abrasive cleaning methods should not be used. These methods will permanently remove a layer of the stone, as well as part of the inscription and detailing. See Preserving Historic Cemeteries for information on the best method for cleaning gravestones. Back to Top Contrary to popular belief, spreading shaving cream across the lettering is not recommended to help read the inscription and/or decoration on old gravestones. Shaving cream contains chemicals and greasy emollients that may soak into the porous stone. Rainwater will not wash the shaving cream from the recessed areas. We recommend the use of a mirror or shiny metal to direct sunlight onto the face of the gravestone to read the information on the stone. A natural soft bristle brush may be used to remove dirt from the face of a stable stone. If the face of the stone is not stable, any cleaning may cause pieces of the stone to become loose and therefore damage the gravestone. Sometimes the use of a squirt bottle with water can be used to read the stone. The information can be read as the water evaporates off the surface of the stone. Q. Why should we develop a master plan for our historic cemetery? An initial visit to the cemetery would be helpful to begin to understand the cemetery layout, approximate size and conditions of the gravestones and other features. This is not the time to start cleaning up the cemetery. Much work is needed before starting the cleaning phase of the work. We recommend that a master plan for the cemetery be developed before any blade of grass is cut or a gravestone is leveled. We also recommend that from the beginning you keep the landowners around the cemetery informed of the progress of your research, as you may need their written approval before starting any cleaning or restoration of the cemetery. For more information about creating a cemetery master plan, contact the cemetery coordinator. Q. The old cemetery where some of my relatives are buried is in the middle of a farm field on private property and I would like to visit it. What should I do? It is not unusual to hear about a forgotten family cemetery or a community cemetery that is the only physical evidence of a village or settlement. In such cases, the cemetery is often surrounded by private property. Section 711.041 of the Health and Safety Code provides you the rights of visitation during reasonable hours and for purposes associated with cemetery visits; however, the owner of the land surrounding the cemetery may designate the routes for reasonable access. If you cannot find the owner, or if the owner is an absentee landowner, check with the county tax appraisal office for the name and address of the owner. We recommend first contacting the county historical commission (CHC) in the county where the cemetery is located. They may be able to provide you with information about the history of the cemetery, if it has been designated and/or inventoried in the past, and if there is a deed for the cemetery property. The CHC is a good source to find someone with additional information about the cemetery. We also recommend going to the county clerk's office to see if a deed exists for the cemetery or if it was set aside in the past for use as a cemetery. Sometimes it mentions the amount of land set side for a "graveyard" and even provides for access to the cemetery. The old deeds might mention the cemetery; however "graveyard" or "cemetery" often disappears from the newer deeds. If you are not able to find the cemetery mentioned in the deed records, or the boundaries are very vague, you might consider applying for the Historic Texas Cemetery designation. If you can get a group interested in preserving this cemetery, you might consider setting up a cemetery association. We recommend developing a Master Plan for the cemetery before beginning any work. See our information on what should be included in a master plan for a historic cemetery. Q. We are considering removing the old fencing around family plots. The groundskeeper says it would save a lot of time cutting the grass and, therefore, save money. What do you think about this? Cemeteries are subject to long-term deterioration from natural and man-made sources, as well as from vandalism and theft resulting in the permanent loss of historic elements within the cemetery. Many elements make up a historic cemetery, including the gravestones, perimeter fencing, entrance arches or gates, family plot fencing, curbing, paths, roads and benches. Each element contributes to the significance of the cemetery and every effort should be made to retain and preserve these elements. |