Tombstone rubbing, have you ever done it?

@writersedge (22563)
United States
March 23, 2010 7:33am CST
If you did, what kind of paper did you use? What kind of medium did you use for the rubbing? If you haven't done it, have you ever looked into it? I just researched it. Very good directions from a variety of sources came up when I searched here at Mylot. I think I vaguely remember newsprint and charcoal when I was really young. In college, we had this double-sided paper, so we only had to rub and the color from one side came through to the other. We used manhole covers instead of cemetary stones and we used other engraved things that we found on the sides of buildings, in sidewalks, etc. So it doesn't have to be tombstones. I ask because I was wondering what kinds of paper people have used and what kinds of mediums they used. But mostly, I was wondering if anyone knows what that double-sided paper is called. One site recommended it, but called it purple and white paper (I remember ours was red and white). I would think all the papers and mediums would fade unless archival levels. For future reference, I would like to know more about other people's use of materials and experiences.
3 people like this
7 responses
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I have done tombstone rubbings, but it was years ago. I used art paper and charcoal pencils. So that they didn't get messed up I took clear contact paper and covered front and back. I do still have these rubbings, I did it for geneaological purposes, and they are still good.
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Mar 10
That's really good that you still have them. Geneological is cool. You must be a lot better than I am with contact paper, I'd have them wrinkled and a mess. I'd need another person helping me.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Mar 10
I did some of this up at a old military cemetary I was researching in. The best type of paper to use is waxed paper and an art pencil. Yes charcoal is good and you can probably lay it on its side so you can trace over the tombstone quicker and easier. I have not heard of any double-sided paper.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I would think nothing would stay on wax paper. I can't write on that with anything I own. Unless one side isn't waxed and that's the side you do it on. An old military cemetary would be of great interest to my husband.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
26 Mar 10
Interesting. It wasn't on the list for the Gravestone rubbing societies, that kind of paper, either. It's a thought. Thanks and take care
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@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Mar 10
It was of interest to me and college kids. One side of the paper is shiny(waxy) and the other isn't. The shiny side sort of helps make it stick alittle to the stone and easier to trace over.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169452)
• United States
23 Mar 10
Well, I was hoping to read something here, but others have not answered yet. I have not done this. When I was really little my older sister (9 years older) showed me how to do this on things around the house. It is a fun art form. I had never heard of the double sided paper, though. I also enjoyed crafts we did with blue print paper, but it is not the same at all.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Mar 10
There are many sites that have directions. The best one is from the Association of Gravestone Studies for beginnners. There are also notes and examples from a college class online. That one is How to do a gravestone rubbing, by Aisling D'Art: Class notes If you wish to find out more, those were the best two that I found and I've been online researching for a while now. With just those two, you can learn a great deal. However, remember that the class used castings from gravestones, that means that they did not use actual old gravestones that could be damaged. Also make sure you practice on something and read all the information from the AGS (association named above). Some of the things like oil paints might bleed through and ruin the stones. The nice thing about that double-sided rubbing paper was that there was no danger of anything rubbing through, even though we pretty much ran around doing modern urban kinds of things in college. I hope you're not disappointed now. I just put this post up. So I imagine it will be awhile before others post. White marble is what we have a lot of in old cemetaries here and that is what we must be the most careful of.
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Apr 10
Now would be a good time for you to check out the responses.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
23 Mar 10
I've never done it, but I remember once my mom telling me about how she saw it being done in Ireland, I think. I do think it would probably be an interesting hobby if there were interesting graveyards around here, but I can't think of too many I can get to.
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@GardenGerty (169452)
• United States
7 Apr 10
My dad just recently told me where some great great relatives are buried, and it is near my son in law's family home.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Apr 10
GG, that will be interesting.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Mar 10
Well in the countryside, there are all kinds of graveyards. In the old days, they put people in the fields before they had a common graveyard by religion or town. Sounds interesting that you remember your Mom talking about it. Thanks and take care.
2 people like this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
10 Jun 11
I remember doing this when I was young and in girl scouts. They took us to a local cemetary and had us try to find the oldest grave and then we had to do the rubbing. I didnt have a clue which was old and which wasent so I just went to a random one and picked that. Mine was one of the newer ones lol. We just used tablet paper and crayons.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
30 Aug 11
Well, when you're little, it's all rocks and rocks are older than us. Thanks for responding and take care.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
23 Mar 10
Well you probably are doing this for something more professional, but when I was a girl scout leader, I think we just took plain paper, (maybe copier paper?) and crayons and they turn out great. I think I'll do this with my son this summer, he'd like that. So are you doing this for fun or another reason?
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Mar 10
Archival reasons, many fields have cemetaries up here. Eventually all of it washes away. If we can see it, better off to take a picture with a camera, if we can't see it, then maybe it won't come out with a paper and writing object either.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
25 Mar 10
Sounds very interesting but I have never tried it. I'll have to research it. I know the paper you are talking about but I don't know the name either. Transfer paper maybe..hmm..I'm not sure.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I'll have to look up transfer paper and see if that's it. Thanks, I hope it is. If you check my response to #1, you'll see some good places to research grave stone rubbing. Thanks and take care.
1 person likes this