Cemeteries Information System - Research Tools
The CIS provides Foundation Researchers with tools to review decedent biographical information, photos, and document images submitted by the general public, descendants, educators, and other researchers.
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View and validate information or documents submitted to the Foundation - to assure the accuracy of decedent-associated data
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Assure CIS information integrity and consistency, and that potential information additions conform with established CIS taxonomies and formats
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Propose to the Foundation new or adapted taxonomies or formats. Note: It is desired that CIS information values and free text retain contemporaneous descriptive integrity, rather than be converted to modern terminology or labels. (E.g., if the ethnicity/race of an individual is noted as "negro' in historical enslaved sale documents, then that term should be used in the CIS Ethnicity/Race information field)
Additionally, researchers:
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Determine if photo and document image submissions are suitable for publishing in the CIS (images may be copyright restricted - not allowing republishing, or they may be republished if appropriate citations of original material source/ownership are applied).
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Add private notes to decedent records, viewable only by other Foundation researchers and administration.
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Prepare new decedent records for addition to the CIS (the actual publishing of a proposed record to be completed by the Foundation)
The Cemetery Information System developed by the Foundation is a 'first of its kind' information gathering and sharing technology platform. As such, the public and researchers may perceive system design or data management issules. The Foundation is keen to enhance the CIS to address design/use feedback to the degree technically and economically possible.
To be clear, the CIS is not intended (or technically or economically able) to mimic the robust family ancestry research and information recording capabilities of popular applications available to the public. That said, the Foundation and the public are encouraged to identify opportunities to enhance the collection and sharing of biographical, community and Black history information that can provide unique insight into the lives of those interred in the burial grounds, the role and impact they had in their communities, and the rich full context of historic Black Georgetown in which they lived and died. Such enhancements will be documented for potential inclusion in subsequent editions of this CIS, or within in future CIS technology platforms.