This ongoing project (known as the Cemeteries Indexing Project) is continuing with the compilation of the largest consolidated and comprehensive index to burials in most cemeteries in South Australia from the transcriptions of tombstones, burial registers and digital images of tombstones.  The project commenced over 30 years ago at which time the information was transcribed onto sheets and then typed onto cards: all the information is currently being digitised.  It provides a valuable secondary source in the advent that the original records are ‘lost’ (refer to ‘Filming’).
The Cemetery Coordinator and the Project team have responsibility of managing the:

• sourcing, extracting, compiling, entering and checking  burial details into the Cemeteries database;
• extensive collection of transcriptions held by the Society on cards, in folders, in databases and as digital images; and
• copies of burial registers and other like material held by the Society.

The Society actively seeks out burial registers to add to the collection and, where permission is gained, enters the details into the Cemetery database.
The group is also working to include and link images of headstones in the database.  These images are another valuable source of information not only to verify the information held in the Cemetery database but also to preserve the information.  This aspect of the Project is an extensive undertaking and has progressed rapidly with the use of digital cameras.  This is an ongoing project and anyone who is keen to assist (particularly country members) should contact the Cemetery Coordinator before undertaking any photographic work to obtain the required specifications.

To search the cemeteries database refer to the ‘Cemeteries Database’ page and the find out more about the project, you are invited to refer to the ‘Cemeteries Fact Sheet’.

PHOTO: George Johnson grave at Cheltenham—lease extended by family to preserve site—now surrounded by modern graves. (Click for larger image)