NEW Lightning Challenge: Cemeteries in Calhoun, Jackson, and Kalamazoo Counties, MI

As you can see from the map, there are plenty of unedited (red) cemeteries that need editing.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Tiered Editing

A reminder that TNMCorps uses a tiered editing process, so you may come across points with different border colors throughout the challenge.  See the article titled Editor Roles and Point Colors in our November 2018 newsletter for more on this process.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Tips and Tricks for Editing Cemeteries 

The primary changes that we ask our volunteers to look for when editing cemeteries are: 

1. Does the cemetery have the correct name?
2. Is the point in the correct location?

Confirm Names with Authoritative Sources

• Remember to confirm all features with an authoritative source.
• Common authoritative sources for cemeteries include local genealogy sites, Find A Grave, and the Historical Topo Layer in the web editor.
  • See the Closer Look at the Layers List article in our July 2019 newsletter for more on the Historical Topo Layer.
  • Note that the Historical Topo Layer may not always include the name of the cemetery.  

Proper Point Placement

• When editing cemeteries, be sure to zoom in all the way and, if necessary, click-and-drag to center the point on the cemetery.  
• Check out the Aerial Imagery Interpretation Part 1: Cemeteries article in our September 2017 newsletter for tips on how to identify cemeteries in aerial photography.
• The Historical Topo Layer is another helpful resource for cemetery placement.

What if I can’t locate an existing cemetery? 

• Can’t locate an existing cemetery? Think twice before deleting it!  Many times older cemeteries exist in forests or overgrown brush and are difficult to spot in aerial photography.  
  • Check out the Cemetery Research and Guidance article in our September 2019 newsletter for tips on how to confirm these hard-to-locate cemeteries.  
  • This Q&A post about Deleting Cemeteries provides additional insight.

What about Addresses?

Addresses are an optional field for all of our points, especially cemeteries.  If a street address exists, we encourage volunteers to add this information. However, many cemeteries do not have an exact street address.  In these scenarios, entering cross streets or the closest street or road name is acceptable.  

• See Table 1 in our Name and Address Formatting Guide for more on how to format cemetery addresses.  
• These Q&A posts discuss cemetery addresses further:  
  • Cemetery Address
  • County Road Address Format
• Do not rely on commercial mapping services for address information.  

Are the other mapping challenges still open?

Yes, our mapping challenges for Schools in Wayne Co, MI and City / Town Halls in OH and WV are still open as of this post.  Feel free to participate in either challenge, and check back frequently for updates on each.