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Late 19 th Century Funerals. 1880. wide variations in funeral thoughts and customs rapid transition to industrial/commercial large number of immigrants funeral mood in cities: formality rural: showed emotions funeral setting: “beauty” . Readings Question #1.
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1880 • wide variations in funeral thoughts and customs • rapid transition to industrial/commercial • large number of immigrants • funeral mood in cities: formality • rural: showed emotions • funeral setting: “beauty”
Readings Question #1 Describe what was done when a death occurred in urban and rural late 19th Century America.
Readings Question #2 In late 19th Century America, where were most funerals held?
Readings Question #3 What did the undertaker do on his “firstcall”?
Readings Question #4 What information did the undertaker gather from the family when making the funeral arrangements?
Casket Selection • catalog, displayroom/stockroom, manufacturer’s showroom • wide range of styles and materials • oak, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, metallic burial cases and caskets, metallic-glass combination • delivery problems
Readings Question #5 Describe how a casket would be ordered and received in an urban and rural community. NYC: Rochester NY 20 hours Chicago- 30 hours, St. Louis 38 hours rural: local cabinetmaker
Readings Question #6 • What were the legal obligations for the undertaker before burial or cremation could take place? Lincoln’s Funeral Procession May 4th, 1865
Cemetery • assist the family with selection • grave lined or vault • evergreen placed on edges of grave • Child: fresh flowers
Readings Question #7 • Describe the rural and urban “home and church funerals” of the late 19th century in America. How were people notified of the death in these communities? funeral card
Post-mortem Photographs man woman
Post-mortem Photograph child
Late 19th Century Mourning Symbols • “gloom and formality” • scarf/crepe on the door • drape the room, veils in doorways • servants: mourning clothes • Black was the appropriate color for mourning.
Widow • black clothing with dull finish for the first year • after 2 years, ordinary clothes • elderly widow • end of 19th century: white for “summer mourning”
Widower • black suit with plain white linen shirt • black: shoes, gloves, cuff-links, hat • black crepe mourning band on hat • mourning period: 1 year • 2nd year: grey clothing
Mourning Traditions • 1st 6 months: “deep mourning” • widow’s stationery • calling cards • participants: black • funeral sashes: “Pallbearer”, “Undertaker”, “IOOF”, “Masonic” • friends: black or dark colors • music: brass band, church bell
From “Gloom” to “Beauty”(1880) Caskets: more aesthetically appealing Flowers: placed around the casket Artificial Flowers: availability Gravestones: more ornate poems symbols of faith and hope