1. Late 19 th Century Funerals

2. 1880 (Page 257) 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”

3. Readings Question #1 Page 259 Describe what was done when a death occurred in urban and rural late 19 th Century America.

4. Readings Question #2 (Page 260) In late 19 th Century America, where were most funerals held?

5. Readings Question #3 (Page 262) What did the undertaker do on his “firstcall”?

6. Readings Question #4 (Page 263) What information did the undertaker gather from the family when making the funeral arrangements?

7. Casket Selection Page 263 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

8. Readings Question #5 (Page 264) 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

9. 1880 (Page 265) undertakers were not licensed legal requirements for burial: certificates from registrar or town clerk physicians had to notify town officials of patient’s time and cause of death undertaker would take death certificate to physician for signature and then secure burial permit family had to provide evidence of ownership and “right of sepulture” to bury

10. Cemetery assist the family with selection grave lined or vault evergreen placed on edges of grave Child: fresh flowers

11. Rural Funerals (Page 265) townspeople and family involved undertaker had “smaller role” and did not do the “lay out” casket made locally and undertaker would help to place decedent in it “preacher” had the dominant role: long eulogy “quartet” would sing; funeral sermon: “save souls” “quartet” would sing; funeral sermon: “save souls” news of the death travelled quickly committal service: men would fill in the grave and no one left until it was completely filled in

12. City Funerals (Page 265) courier would bring death notice(Plates 60 & 61) handwritten notes (Plate 62) newspaper announcements: distant friends undertaker supervised the funeral undertaker’s assistant: arrived early at home to set up folding chairs “viewing” held prior to service fraternal orders would participate service was lengthy (prayers, songs, sermon, eulogy, bible readings, “short life history”)

13. City Funerals (cont’d) Following service: undertaker took charge of pallbearers and deceased placed in hearse undertaker’s assistant: gather flowers attendees: organized in carriages for procession undertaker rode with hearse driver or with clergy in “front carriage” undertaker’s assistant: stay behind to “clean up” the house sometimes “church funeral”

14. Church Funeral (Page 268) clergy meets the undertaker in the vestibule procession up center aisle (clergy leading) casket remains at head of center aisle and flowers placed around it Catholic ceremony: 3 candles placed at each side of bier casket opened at end of service: “final view” pallbearers place casket in hearse procession carries on to the cemetery

15. Funeral Cortege (Page 269) hearse dominates the procession (plumes) societies/fraternal orders took the lead common arrangement: Clergyman Clergyman Flower carriage Flower carriage Honorary pallbearers Honorary pallbearers Active pallbearers Active pallbearers Hearse Hearse Immediate family and relatives Immediate family and relatives friends friends

16. Graveside Procedures (Page 270) sexton/cemetery superintendent directs the procession to the grave undertaker directs the pallbearers clergy leads the way to the grave pallbearers place casket over the grave clergy faces the family and begins the service conclusion: “Earth to earth….” sprinkle a handful of dirt over the casket undertaker supervises lowering of the casket family and friends leave before grave is filled in

17. Post-mortem Photographs manwoman manwoman

18. Post-mortem Photograph child child

19. Late 19 th Century Mourning Symbols (Page 270) “gloom and formality” scarf/crepe on the door drape the room, veils in doorways servants: mourning clothes Black was the appropriate color for mourning.

20. Widow black clothing with dull finish for the first year after 2 years, ordinary clothes elderly widow end of 19 th century: white for “summer mourning”

21. Widower black suit with plain white linen shirt black: shoes, gloves, cuff-links, hat black crepe mourning band on hat mourning period: 1 year 2 nd year: grey clothing

22. Mourning Traditions (Page 272) 1 st 6 months: “deep mourning” widow’s stationery (Plate 62) calling cards participants: black funeral sashes: “Pallbearer”, “Undertaker”, “IOOF”, “Masonic” (Plate 63) friends: black or dark colors music: brass band, church bell

23. From “Gloom” to “Beauty” (1880) Page 273 Caskets: more aesthetically appealing - Figure 32 page 274 Flowers: placed around the casket Artificial Flowers: availability Gravestones: more ornate (Page 280) poems poems symbols of faith and hope symbols of faith and hope