The Association for Gravestone Studies

elcome to the Association for Gravestone Studies. Are you wondering why anyone would want to study gravestones? And are you amazed that more than 1200 people have joined our association? I believe the answer is the changing American attitude toward preserving our history. We've always honored great individuals and great moments in our history: we saved Mount Vernon in 1853 and every year celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But in the closing years of the twentieth century we came to realize that our history should include the lives of ordinary people and ordinary events as well.

Stones mark the graves of ordinary people, and there are thousands of them in every state in the union. They provide valuable information: genealogy, local history, medical history, religious history, and changing fashions in art and literature. If you have a special interest, join us. You will find that other members complement your interest and you will receive support through reading our publications and making friends at our conferences.

-Thomas Malloy, President

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