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Early American Funeral Undertaking. Tradesman Undertakers. Colonial period: undertaking combined with cabinetmaking lack of regulation regarding funerals 1799 Baltimore: funeral undertakers appointed as coroners War of 1812: western expansion cabinet-making undertakers added services.
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Tradesman Undertakers • Colonial period: undertaking combined with cabinetmaking • lack of regulation regarding funerals • 1799 Baltimore: funeral undertakers appointed as coroners • War of 1812: western expansion • cabinet-making undertakers added services
Readings Question #1 • Who was the “furnishing undertaker”? What type of services did he offer? What influence did he have on the funeral service profession?
Performers of Personal Service • nurse, nurse-governess, midwives • nurses also practiced healing arts • end of the 18th century: “layers out of the dead” • 19th century: women less prominent role in the “business” of undertaking • expanded services and wide range of tasks • tradesmen, craftsmen, male functionaries
Religious Functionaries • up until the 19th century: churchyard and church cemetery main mode of “sepulture” • role of the clergy was important • church sexton extended his mortuary functions (early 19th century)
Readings Question #2 • Describe the evolution of the sexton to the sexton-undertaker in 19th century America. Municipal Officers • “inviter to funerals”
Readings Question #3 • What were the duties of the “inviter to funerals”?
Readings Question #4 • Who were the Early American funeral undertakers? What were their duties?
Readings Question #5 • Why is the first half of the 19th century crucially important in the evolution of the modern funeral director?