The data set I reviewed was The Tombstone Transcription Project. The tombstone Transcription project is a lasting tribute to our ancestors. They will transcribe tombstone inscriptions and have that work archived for the future generations and made easily accessible to all. The tombstone project coordinators are Debra Crosby and Rebecca Maloney. In this project there was a poem titled The Recording Of A Cemetery by Thelma Greene Reagan. The poem highlights the importance of remembering the dead and preserving history. This ensures the that the future generation can remember and honor those who have passed.

Data set profile:

  1. Who is credited as the creator and/or contributors of this data set? Who are they? They are mentioned above.
  2. What are the sources of their data? records of tombstone inscriptions, genealogical societies, gravestones/headstones.
  3. Why did they create or compile it? They created it because many of the gravestones at cemeteries were becoming difficult to read and have already fainted making it hard to identify. This was due to time and weather.
  4. How has it been used? It has been used to identify ancestors and preserve cemetery data for the future generations. It also can be used in genealogical societies.
  5. What format is the data set in? Although I’m not sure what format this data set would fall under, I would think a database or spreadsheet.

Data set evaluation:

  1. Take a look at the data itself. How have they structured it? What fields have they chosen? What effect might that have on how it can be used? The chosen field is historical ancestors grave sites. It can be used to analyze and identify as well as genealogical purposes.
  2. Read the creators’ description of the data set. Have they described the choices they made in cleaning the data, and if so, how? What effect might those choices have on the data? N/A
  3. Consider the creators’ identities and goals in creating the data set. How might those things have shaped the data, either intentionally or inadvertently? I honestly don’t believe that their identities contributes this data set, however their goals yes. Thelma’s primary goal was to preserve gravestone inscriptions both intentionally and inadvertently.
  4. What would you use this data for? Preservation and historical purposes