Do I have to be a member of the St. Clair County Genealogical Society (SCCGS)?Back
Membership in the SCCGS is not required, but participants are expected to interact in a professional, respectful manner during all phases of the project, especially while on the Cemetery grounds. See the SCCGS Home Page to thank, donate, or join the St. Clair County Genealogical Society.

May I transcribe Lot Cards for my own ancestor(s) or family?Back
If you supply us with the Subdivision and Lot in which your ancestor is buried, and if indexing that section of the Cemetery is currently in progress, you may sign up to transcribe the batch of Lot Cards in which your ancestor's Lot falls. While we welcome all participation, we are unable to further subdivide assignments at this time.

How do I attach the file to e-mail it back to the Project?Back
In Outlook or Outlook Express

• First save the file and close it. Open your e-mail software. In Outlook or Outlook Express, begin a new e-mail message. In the To line include the e-mail address of the Project person designated to receive your transcription. This may be a different person than the one who first e-mailed the Lot Card to you.

• The Subject Line should identify the Subdivision and Lot numbers you transcribed. For example: Annex 1 Lots 4 - 10.

• Look at the top line of your e-mail window. See the word Insert? Click it. A box will open asking you to locate your Lot file within your computer's directory. Once located, click once on the file folder, then click the Attach button. A copy of the file will now appear in an Attachment line in your e-mail. If you want to include a message with the same e-mail, type it now. Then click Send. Wait for the file to be completely mailed before disconnecting.

• The Project volunteers will confirm the receipt of your file. If you do not hear from them within 2 or 3 days, please send a message inquiring about its arrival.

AOL users have a 2 meg limit for attachments, so use file compression utilities before sending larger files or images

• Click the Write icon on the AOL toolbar.
• In the Send To box, type the e-mail address of the person you want to send e-mail to.
• In the SUBJECT box, type the subject line of your e-mail.
• Type your message in the large message box.
• Follow AOL Help Directions to locate and attach your files.
• If you click Send Now, your e-mail will be sent immediately. The Send Now button is active only when you are online.
• If you click Send Later, your e-mail will be stored in your offline mailbox until you activate Automatic AOL to send your outgoing e-mail. The Send Later icon is not active when you are using the Guest screen name.

Is my family/ancestor in Walnut Hill Cemetery? What indexes are available?Back

• On this Website, use the Search Box at the bottom of the SCCGS Home Page. Look for hits titled Walnut Hill. Your browser's Edit > Find feature will locate words on any particular Walnut Hill web page.

• The Belleville Public Library has a 3 x 5 card index created by the late Paul Schneider. Each entry was derived from the Sexton's books on microfilm. Library Phone (618) 234-0441. Address - 121 East Washington St., Belleville, IL 62220.

• The cemetery business office at City Hall may be able to locate a particular burial. Phone (618) 233-6810, or write the office at Walnut Hill Cemetery, c/o 101 South Illinois, Belleville, IL 62220.

• The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, with a Center in O'Fallon and St. Louis, has a typed transcript of burials. We do not know how complete or comprehensive it is at this writing (3/2008).

Where are the original Lot Cards stored?Back
City Hall has the original, most up-to-date Lot Cards. Phone (618) 233-6810, or write this office at Walnut Hill Cemetery, c/o 101 South Illinois, Belleville, IL 62220. The Belleville Public Library has photocopies of the Lot Cards updated through January 2008. This Project is using Lot Cards updated through about 1992. Library Phone (618) 234-0441. Address - 121 East Washington St., Belleville, IL 62220.

Where are the Sexton's books stored? Back
City Hall has the original Sexton's books that still survive (Book 1 1850 through April 14, 1853 is no where to be found). Phone (618) 233-6810, or write the office at Walnut Hill Cemetery, c/o 101 South Illinois, Belleville, IL 62220. Fragile microfilm of the Sexton's books is housed at the Belleville Public Library. Phone (618) 234-0441. Address - 121 East Washington St., Belleville, IL 62220.

Where is Walnut Hill Cemetery located? Back
The cemetery is located at 1101 Mascoutah Avenue, Belleville, Illinois. The business office is located at City Hall. Phone (618) 233-6810, or write the office at Walnut Hill Cemetery, c/o 101 South Illinois, Belleville, IL 62220.

When will other Subdivisions of the Cemetery be indexed? Back
As each Subdivision is complete, a new Subdivision begins. The more volunteers that sign up, the quicker the task is accomplished.

How many people are buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery? Back
As of February 2008, nearly 32,000 people were interred in the cemetery.

Why is there no headstone for someone buried on the Lot? Erecting new monuments. Back
A headstone may have fallen over and is now covered with ground, one may never have been set on the Lot, or an old wooden cross has decayed. Contact City Hall first for requirements to erect a new monument, or replace an old one. Phone (618) 233-6810, or write the office at Walnut Hill Cemetery, c/o 101 South Illinois, Belleville, IL 62220.

How do I join, thank, or donate to the SCCGS? Back
The SCCGS began in 1977 and is tax exempt under 501(c)(3). Membership in 2007 was 443, about sixty of which are Life members. The Society address is P.O. Box 431, Belleville, IL 62222- - 0431. See the following links for the

• SCCGS Home Page
• To Join SCCGS
• To learn more About SCCGS and its other Acquisitions and Projects.

Will obituaries or biographies of those buried at Walnut Hill be added to the Project data? Back
The primary goal at present is to complete the Lot Card transcriptions and headstone photographs. The Board will consider expanding the Project in the future.

How much Website space will the Project take? Back
The Walnut Hill Lot Card Transcription and Headstone Photograph Project will take approximately 10 gigabytes of web space when completed. The SCCGS pays an annual fee for this service.

Is there a fee to view the headstones or Lot Card information?Back
No fee is charged, nor is membership in the SCCGS required to view the Walnut Hill Cemetery Lot Card Transcription and Headstone Photograph Project on the SCCGS Website. SCCGS is non-profit and welcomes donations to help us offset costs incurred with this and other projects. The SCCGS Board decided in March 2008 to keep the this Project freely available on its Website. The Walnut Hill Project originally described will remain free for public use even if funds and I.T. expertise enable SCCGS to create a Member's Only Section of the Website.

The St. Clair County (Ill.) Genealogical Society (SCCGS) has many helpful indexes, addresses, and transcriptions online. Church register transcriptions and its Research and Resources... Guide are just a few of the many publications offered by the Society.

SCCGS invites you to join in their efforts to preserve ancestral records for educational and historical purposes, promote genealogical publication of this information, promote the preservation and safeguarding of genealogical data, and encourage the study of family history and teach methods of genealogical research. See links below to learn more about SCCGS, its projects, goals, and accomplishments. Enjoy!