The East Cuyahoga County Genealogical Society and the City of Cleveland have initiated an ambitious joint project to transcribe pre-1994 records from the interment books of all Cleveland-owned cemeteries into a database that will be available on line. There are 11 cemeteries with approximately 400,000 interments. The Society is working on the historical records. (Interments after 1994 are already computerized.) Photo of Jerry Kliot - NEOCAG and Stacie Murry – 1st VP, ECCGS
Many have been involved with the idea of establishing such a database, and began work in that direction. This effort is now being continued through the coordination of ECCGS and the City. Thanks to a financial gift left to East Cuyahoga County Genealogical Society, the group was able to donate computers. All records will be available to the public through the City of Cleveland’s server/web site. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties has been immensely cooperative and supportive of this project.
The group is currently working at the Highland Park Cemetery Office (21400 Chagrin Boulevard, Shaker Hts., OH). Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for three-hour shifts (Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays). Most of the work will consist of inputting data from the interment records into a database using a desktop computer; volunteers are also needed to proofread the records. This is a huge project with a tremendous historical and genealogical payoff. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Vicki B. Vigil at vvigil987@sbcglobal.net.