Some insight into women's appearances in these records will help you tease out research leads and find maiden names. You'll get more how-tos in A Genealogists's Guide to Discovering Your Female Ancestors by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack (Betterway Books).

Cemetery: A tombstone may bear a woman's maiden or married name, just her first initial, or her husband's name ("loving wife of John Doe"). No maiden name? Check nearby plots: If they're relatives, the names could be clues to your female ancestor. Contact the caretaker or cemetery or church office for the burial record, which may contain details such as who purchased the stone.