That’s the title and theme of my upcoming trip to Chicago. After compiling an extensive  list of gangland, and actor/actress names to research. Then realizing that I’d be wasting precious time looking up obituaries online.  I’ve decided to use the resources I have at my disposal in the form of books such  “Resting Places: The Burial Sites Of Over 10,000 Famous Persons” by Scott Wilson and websites such as Find A Grave. I was able to narrow down the search a bit.

If neither of my resources could offer anything. I’ll have to resort to my next tactic and tool which is calling the various cemeteries in the Chicagoland area. This tactic I’m currently engaging in.  Fortunately the Catholic cemeteries in Chicago are all networked together compliments of the Chicago Archdiocese. This made my job a lot easier for the most part.

I still have several names to research I’m going to try to track down the grave site locations of as many names as I can. I’ve had lots of luck thus far. For the names I’m not able to track down with the help of books, the internet, or calling the cemeteries, I’m going to have to track down obituaries online.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again but this is a very tedious process. But in the end it all works out. Me being a die-hard grave hunter to the core I’ll never give up. I may take breaks from the hobby now and then. But I see this whole research aspect as a scavenger hunt. The same goes for when I’m in the field taking photographs.

When I feel that I’ve done enough research and obtained the locations of enough names to keep me busy for a week. The research phase will come to a close. But keep in mind I’ll more than likely post a list of who I plan to track down. So you get a general idea of what I plan to do and what I’m up against.