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Q&A ON RESEARCH Q. Can you tell me if someone is buried at The Woodlawn Cemetery? A. Yes. Just fill out the Request for Information Form and send it to the Cemetery. If you call our Administrative office to ask if an individual is buried at Woodlawn, please be prepared to provide the correct spelling of the individual's legal name and the approximate date of death. The Woodlawn Cemetery is still actively assisting families and conducting funerals on a daily basis. It is best to make genealogy inquires after 3 p.m. Q. Do I need to know the date of death to find out if someone is buried at Woodlawn? A. No. Woodlawn's records are organized alphabetically. If the individual's name is a common name like, "John Smith," there are likely to be several people in our records with the same name. By providing us with middle initial and an approximate date of death you can help us to identify the correct person. Q. Can you provide me with a list of all the individuals buried at Woodlawn with one last name? A. Not at this time. The Woodlawn Cemetery is in the process of transferring all our records to a computerized database. It would not be possible to provide a list of all the "Smiths" without making a copy of each individual document. In the case of a common last name, this could involve copying hundreds of records. Q. If I'm sure someone is buried at Woodlawn but you say they're not there, what do I do? A. First make sure you have the right Woodlawn. Many obituaries will read "burial at Woodlawn," and not identify which Woodlawn. There is a Woodlawn in New Jersey, in Elmira New York, and you may need to search Woodland Cemetery. If you have been told someone is buried in a large cemetery in New York City, the other location to check is Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. They have an online database where you can do a quick search to see if your ancestor is buried there. Also, you need to help us by providing as much information as possible. For example, if you called the cemetery and asked if "Duke" Ellington was buried at Woodlawn we might answer "no," because he was buried under his legal name, Edward Kennedy Ellington. Then if you told us he died on May 25, 1974, we could check our daily interment ledgers and we would be able to confirm he was buried here, but not under his famous nickname. Q. Can I come to the cemetery and search through the records myself? A. No. The Woodlawn Cemetery maintains an archive containing millions of records associated with interment, memorialization and care and design of lots. Because of the volume of records, they are stored in several different locations. Out of respect for those in our care and for security reasons, some records are considered private and can only be obtained by the current Lot Owner. Q. After we confirm the individual is at Woodlawn, can I get a copy of the burial record? A. Yes. In order to obtain a copy of a record, you must first fill out the Request for Information Form. Send the form to the cemetery and we will send you an estimate of the cost of pulling and copying the records. Then return the form with check or credit card information and we will send you a copy of the record. Q. What does it cost to get copies of records? A. The Woodlawn Cemetery charges $46 for the Lot Card and first Finder Card. Additional Finder Cards for individuals listed on the card cost $10 per card. For archived records such as plans, specifications, and foundation orders the fee is $44 per hour for the staff time involved in pulling the records, making copies and mailing materials. Q. What information will you give me for free? A. We will confirm that an individual is buried at The Woodlawn Cemetery and provide the grave location at no cost. Q. If I am doing research for an academic paper, article or a book can I have access to Woodlawn's archival collections? A. Yes. We encourage scholars and biographers to be
accurate and informed when writing about The Woodlawn Cemetery. In order
to have access to information, you must send us a written summary of
your project on the letterhead of the institution you represent in advance
of your visit and make an appointment to view records. E-mail: Friends@thewoodlawncemetery.org
— MAIN MENU — The Woodlawn Cemetery Phone: (718) 920-0500 • Toll Free: (877) 496-6352 Open Every Day: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Copyright © The Woodlawn Cemetery 2005
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