Research and Documentation

Every preservation effort begins with understanding a cemetery's history, current conditions, and long-term needs. The Cemetery Sista provides research and documentation services that help communities make informed decisions about preserving and managing historic cemeteries.

Our interdisciplinary approach combines historic preservation, cultural resource management, environmental science, spatial analysis, and community engagement to produce practical, actionable results for each project.

• Historical & Archival Research: Uncover the history of a cemetery through archival records, historic maps, deeds, newspapers, oral histories, and other documentary sources to better understand its significance and guide preservation efforts.

• Cemetery Documentation & Assessments: Document existing conditions, identify preservation priorities, and assess risks that may affect the long-term stewardship of a cemetery.

• GIS Mapping & Spatial Analysis: Use mapping and spatial analysis to document cemetery boundaries, identify landscape changes over time, visualize environmental risks, and support planning and decision-making.

• Environmental & Preservation Research: Evaluate how environmental conditions, development pressures, and changing landscapes influence cemetery preservation and identify strategies to improve resilience.

• Community-Based Research: Collaborate with descendants, churches, nonprofit organizations, and local communities to document cemetery histories and development preservation strategies rooted in community knowledge.