The Association for Gravestone Studies

he AGS Archives contains collections donated primarily by members and includes books, research papers, photographs, postcards, articles, and other gravestone related materials. In April 2009, the AGS Board voted to transfer our Archives to the Department of Special Collections, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Research may be conducted according to their procedures. A complete listing of Markers digitized and available on their site is also available at
Archive collection at University of Massachusetts - Amherst.
Members may use the library housed at AGS by appointment with the AGS office. When not in violation of copyright laws, some materials may be photocopied for a fee.

Collecting Policy:

The mission of the Association for Gravestone Studies is to foster appreciation of the cultural significance of gravestones and burial grounds through their study and preservation. To further our mission, we wish to collect relevant materials, ensure their preservation, and make them available to researchers.

We collect the following types of materials related to gravemarkers and cemeteries and the Association for Gravestone Studies’ history, operation, and activities:

     Audio and video recordings

     Burial records and other information about interred persons

     Carver, marker manufacturer, and seller records including account books, patterns,
     catalogs, diaries, and correspondence

     Cemetery association records and publications

     Cemetery surveys, field notes, maps including GIS data

     Photo postcards

     Publications including books, journals, articles, brochures, newspaper clippings

     Research notes, correspondence, source materials, and resulting reports, papers, theses,
     and dissertations

     Rubbings if artistically, culturally, or historically significant

     Visual images including photographs, slides, and negatives (digital and conventional),
     preferably identified by cemetery or town/county and state and/or by subject or collection
     focus

     Materials documenting the Association for Gravestone Studies’ history, organization,
     operation, and activities

     Other materials relating to the manufacture, carving, sale, use, conservation, or study of
     grave markers

We do not accept:

     Three dimensional artifacts such as gravestones, casts, foil impressions

     Items for sale (these may be donated to AGS, but not to the Archives)

     Items that the donor does not own or have the legal right to donate

Additional Conditions:

Donors must sign a Deed of Gift transferring the property to AGS.

AGS does not provide appraisals for donors.

AGS reserves the right to refuse collections or individual items that do not fit our Collecting Policy, that we are unable to properly preserve, or that otherwise are not acceptable to our Board of Trustees.

      Questions about care and handling of personal items of historical research value may be found on the National Archives website at: http://www.archives.gov/preservation/family-archives/.

Research Clearinghouse: AGS offers assistance to members involved in research on specific types of gravestones, carver attribution, symbols and ornamental carving, epitaphs, and other aspects of gravestone studies. Members may access this resource by contacting the AGS Office. Inquiries may also be placed in the AGS monthly electronic newsletter by sending the query to the AGS office. Before you ask a question, please check Preservation, Symbolism, and More Information sections for FAQs that have already been answered.

Another wonderful resource is The Farber Gravestone Collection, containing over 13,500 images documenting the sculpture on more than 9,000 gravestones, most of which were made prior to 1800, in the Northeastern part of the United States. The late Daniel Farber of Worcester, Massachusetts, and his wife, Jessie Lie Farber, were responsible for the largest portion of the collection. This online version of the Farber Gravestone Collection is sponsored by the American Antiquarian Society and can be accessed here. See our More Information page for an introduction to this collection written by Jessie Lie Farber.

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