Source registry

Data Sources

The archive depends on multiple public data layers. This page explains which sources shape the site and what each source can realistically support.

No single cemetery dataset answers every user question. The site therefore separates location discovery, burial lookup, and geographic context rather than pretending they all come from one perfect source.

Why source separation matters

A cemetery coordinate source is not the same thing as a burial ledger. A veterans burial record is not always a full cemetery profile. Geographic boundary datasets help organize the archive, but they do not confirm record-level facts by themselves.

How source limitations appear on pages

When a page is missing a detail, that often reflects the underlying source rather than an editorial omission. Strong archive pages should explain that limitation clearly so users know what is verified, what is inferred, and what still requires outside confirmation.

Source Coverage What it helps with
USGS cemetery datasets National Cemetery names, location coordinates, place-level discovery
VA National Cemetery Administration Veteran burial records Burial lookup, veteran cemetery context, memorial pages
Public county, city, and ZIP geography Nationwide State to county to city hierarchy, nearby search, geo-context pages

Used for

Location discovery

State, county, and cemetery pages rely heavily on geographic and location datasets.

Used for

Burial lookup

Record pages use burial data carefully and should preserve the original source context whenever possible.

Used for

Archive structure

Hierarchy datasets make the archive browsable and support clean internal linking at scale.