GRAVE DISPATCHES

A Grave Dispatch is a piece of cemetery history brought back into view. Each one begins with a grave and follows the story wherever it leads, uncovering the remarkable, unexpected, and sometimes forgotten lives behind the names and dates carved in stone.

Every physical Grave Dispatch combines an original, researched story from A Grave Affair with historical imagery and materials, along with collectible pieces inspired by the story.

While every Grave Dispatch is a little different, each is built around an original researched story and includes materials that help bring that history to life.

You can expect historical photographs, reproduced documents or ephemera, story-specific collectibles, and a Memorial Card featuring the person's memorial and graveside location when available.

There may be a few surprises, too. Part of the fun is discovering what's inside.

Everywhere!

Some stories begin with a gravestone encountered during a cemetery visit. Others emerge through research, travel, archival discoveries, recommendations, or a detail that's simply too interesting not to investigate.

The common thread is the cemetery. Grave Dispatches uses these places as a starting point for discovering the lives and stories connected to them.

Not at all. In fact, that's part of the point.

Cemeteries are filled with extraordinary stories belonging to people whose names most of us have never heard. Grave Dispatches isn't about finding the most famous person in the cemetery. It's about finding a story worth telling.

Not necessarily. Original historical materials are often rare, fragile, one-of-a-kind, or held by archives and collections.

Documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and other materials included with Grave Dispatches may be reproductions when originals are unavailable or impractical to provide. Some pieces may also be resized, reformatted, excerpted, or otherwise adapted for presentation while remaining faithful to the historical source.

When the gravesite is accessible and its location is known, absolutely.

One of the signature pieces included with Grave Dispatches is the Memorial Card, featuring information about the person's memorial, cemetery, and GPS location so you can find the place where the story began.

Of course, we always encourage visitors to respect cemetery rules, operating hours, and the graves and families around them.

Grave Dispatches is rooted in history, not hauntings.

Some stories may be strange, mysterious, surprising, or even a little dark because real lives and histories sometimes are. But Grave Dispatches focuses on researched cemetery history and the real people and events connected to these places.

Physical mail is at the heart of Grave Dispatches. Current offerings are designed as tangible experiences meant to be opened, explored, and collected.

From time to time, A Grave Affair may also offer special editions, digital extras, or other ways to explore Grave Dispatches.

Grave Dispatches is released in limited seasons and special editions, rather than as an automatically renewing monthly subscription.

Each offering will clearly explain how many Dispatches are included and when they'll be mailed. Check the current offerings above to see what's heading out from the cemetery next.

Absolutely. Grave Dispatches makes a particularly good gift for cemetery wanderers, history lovers, genealogists, taphophiles, and anyone who appreciates unusual mail.

Gift availability and shipping details may vary by season or special edition, so check the individual offering for details.

Grave Dispatches is researched, written, and created by Ashlynn Rickord Werner, founder of A Grave Affair, a consulting and education practice dedicated to helping cemeteries connect people with the history, stories, and experiences found within their grounds.

Grave Dispatches is the fun side of that mission: an opportunity to take some of the fascinating stories found between the stones and send them out into the world.