Late 19 Late 19 th th Century Century Funerals Funerals
Late 19Late 19thth Century Century FuneralsFunerals
18801880
wide variations in funeral thoughts and wide variations in funeral thoughts and customscustoms
rapid transition to industrial/commercialrapid transition to industrial/commercial
large number of immigrantslarge number of immigrants
funeral mood in cities: formalityfuneral mood in cities: formality
rural: showed emotionsrural: showed emotions
funeral setting: “beauty” funeral setting: “beauty”
Readings Question #1Readings Question #1
Describe what was done when a death Describe what was done when a death occurred in urban and rural late 19occurred in urban and rural late 19thth Century America.Century America.
Readings Question #2Readings Question #2
In late 19In late 19thth Century America, where were Century America, where were most funerals held?most funerals held?
Readings Question #3Readings Question #3
What did the undertaker do on his “firstcall”?What did the undertaker do on his “firstcall”?
Readings Question #4Readings Question #4
What information did the undertaker gather What information did the undertaker gather from the family when making the funeral from the family when making the funeral arrangements?arrangements?
Casket SelectionCasket Selection
catalog, displayroom/stockroom, catalog, displayroom/stockroom, manufacturer’s showroommanufacturer’s showroom
wide range of styles and materialswide range of styles and materials
oak, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, oak, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, metallic burial cases and caskets, metallic-metallic burial cases and caskets, metallic-glass combinationglass combination
delivery problemsdelivery problems
Readings Question #5Readings Question #5
Describe how a casket would be ordered Describe how a casket would be ordered and received in an urban and rural and received in an urban and rural community.community.
NYC: Rochester NY 20 hoursNYC: Rochester NY 20 hours
Chicago- 30 hours, St. Louis 38 hoursChicago- 30 hours, St. Louis 38 hours
rural: local cabinetmakerrural: local cabinetmaker
Readings Question #6Readings Question #6
What were the legal obligations for the What were the legal obligations for the undertaker before burial or cremation could undertaker before burial or cremation could take place?take place?
Lincoln’s Funeral ProcessionLincoln’s Funeral Procession
May 4May 4thth, 1865, 1865
CemeteryCemetery
assist the family with selectionassist the family with selection
grave lined or vaultgrave lined or vault
evergreen placed on edges of graveevergreen placed on edges of grave
Child: fresh flowers Child: fresh flowers
Readings Question #7Readings Question #7
Describe the rural and urban “home and Describe the rural and urban “home and church funerals” of the late 19church funerals” of the late 19thth century in century in America. How were people notified of the America. How were people notified of the death in these communities?death in these communities?
funeral cardfuneral card
Post-mortem PhotographsPost-mortem Photographs
manman womanwoman
Post-mortem PhotographPost-mortem Photograph
childchild
Late 19Late 19thth Century Mourning Century Mourning SymbolsSymbols
““gloom and formality”gloom and formality”
scarf/crepe on the doorscarf/crepe on the door
drape the room, veils in doorwaysdrape the room, veils in doorways
servants: mourning clothesservants: mourning clothes
Black was the appropriate color for Black was the appropriate color for mourning.mourning.
WidowWidow
black clothing with dull finish for the first black clothing with dull finish for the first yearyear
after 2 years, ordinary clothesafter 2 years, ordinary clothes
elderly widowelderly widow
end of 19end of 19thth century: white for “summer century: white for “summer mourning”mourning”
WidowerWidower
black suit with plain white linen shirtblack suit with plain white linen shirt
black: shoes, gloves, cuff-links, hatblack: shoes, gloves, cuff-links, hat
black crepe mourning band on hatblack crepe mourning band on hat
mourning period: 1 yearmourning period: 1 year
22ndnd year: grey clothing year: grey clothing
Mourning TraditionsMourning Traditions
11stst 6 months: “deep mourning” 6 months: “deep mourning”widow’s stationerywidow’s stationerycalling cardscalling cardsparticipants: blackparticipants: blackfuneral sashes: “Pallbearer”, funeral sashes: “Pallbearer”, “Undertaker”, “IOOF”, “Masonic”“Undertaker”, “IOOF”, “Masonic”friends: black or dark colorsfriends: black or dark colorsmusic: brass band, church bellmusic: brass band, church bell
From “Gloom” to “Beauty”From “Gloom” to “Beauty”(1880)(1880)
Caskets: more aesthetically appealingCaskets: more aesthetically appealing
Flowers: placed around the casketFlowers: placed around the casket
Artificial Flowers: availabilityArtificial Flowers: availability
Gravestones: more ornateGravestones: more ornate
poemspoems
symbols of faith and hopesymbols of faith and hope