Stories of my Illinois ancestors brought to life by my great grandmother Grace Ellen (Smith) Scanlon instilled within me a deep interest in learning more about my family heritage. After years of library and Internet research I decided to start visiting the places my ancestors called home. While my initial trips to Illinois, New York, and Virginia were focused on genealogical research, I was immediately fascinated by the isolated and abandoned nature of the family farm and community cemeteries where many of my ancestors are interred. My interest in "forgotten" cemeteries led me to grad school, where I earned a master's degree in Anthropology. For my thesis project I researched how the victims of Southern California's St. Francis Dam disaster of 1928 have been commemorated and remembered through various forms of memorialization - especially grave markers. I am grateful to my many fellow find-a-gravers across the U.S.A. who helped me locate and photograph the grave of each flood victim so they are not forgotten.

I do my best to provide complete and accurate information in all my postings. Corrections are encouraged!

I will gladly transfer memorials to family and I am happy share my photographs, but please give proper credit: "Ann Stansell, Find A Grave #46964942".

If I have offended anyone by adding their loved ones to the site please let me know and I will do my best to seek a resolution and/or remove the memorial.

You can contact me directly at [email protected]

Stories of my Illinois ancestors brought to life by my great grandmother Grace Ellen (Smith) Scanlon instilled within me a deep interest in learning more about my family heritage. After years of library and Internet research I decided to start visiting the places my ancestors called home. While my initial trips to Illinois, New York, and Virginia were focused on genealogical research, I was immediately fascinated by the isolated and abandoned nature of the family farm and community cemeteries where many of my ancestors are interred. My interest in "forgotten" cemeteries led me to grad school, where I earned a master's degree in Anthropology. For my thesis project I researched how the victims of Southern California's St. Francis Dam disaster of 1928 have been commemorated and remembered through various forms of memorialization - especially grave markers. I am grateful to my many fellow find-a-gravers across the U.S.A. who helped me locate and photograph the grave of each flood victim so they are not forgotten.

I do my best to provide complete and accurate information in all my postings. Corrections are encouraged!

I will gladly transfer memorials to family and I am happy share my photographs, but please give proper credit: "Ann Stansell, Find A Grave #46964942".

If I have offended anyone by adding their loved ones to the site please let me know and I will do my best to seek a resolution and/or remove the memorial.

You can contact me directly at [email protected]