The Rise of American Funeral Undertaking Flashcards
Where are the origins of early Funeral Customs in America from?
British and Dutch customs
The Virginia Colony was founded for what purpose?
it was basically a commercial enterprise.
Describe the FUNERAL customs of the Virginia Colony (SOUTH)
They were funeral customs of England
The Anglican church continues to dominate funeralization.
The Anglican church SEXTON had primary control.
Actual preparation and care of the remains were performed within the family.
Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by Puritans, a religious colony exiled from _______ ________
Anglican England
Describe the FUNERAL customs of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (North)
Established a THEOCRACY that rejected all other creeds except their own.
Embraced the DOCTRINE of FATALISM and rejected an organized clergy
SIMPLISTIC COMMITTAL service and IMMEDIATE INTERMENTS with all preparations of the deceased accomplished within the family. ELIMINATED PRAYERS during the COMMITTAL
Describe the Protestant work ethic.
Calvinistic work or starve to death. One must pull their own weight.
During the time of 1600 to 1700, Puritan funeral customs were models of ________ and _______
simplicity and Dignity
During the time of 1700 to 1800, an increase in social character and prestige attached to funeralization would result in:
Ostentatious funeral practices
- The skull and cross bone was replaced by winged cherub on grave stones
- Fatalism and pessimism were replaced by LIBERALIZED CALVINISM
- The return of lengthy sermons, often printed and attached to coffins
- Use of GIFTS: rings, scarves, gloves
What is the difference between Under-bearers and Pall-Bearers?
Under-bearers carried the coffin.
Pall-bearers carried the pall-sticks
The colonial sexton was charging fees for:
- announcing the funeral by tolling the bell
and
- digging the grave
What state was a Catholic colony and practiced Roman Catholic funerals without fear of persecution?
Maryland
Describe the New England WAKE? (north)
remains were washed, dressed and placed in a state by family, neighbors or even a nurse.
A coffin was purchased from a cabinet maker; more intricate had “COFFIN FURNATURE” imported from England or Germany
Evisceration and placing of remains in CERE CLOTH (usually wool, heavy canvas) during hot weather
Giving of GIFTS to MOURNERS
Describe the Virginian WAKE? (South)
Funerals were under direct control of the ANGLICAN CHURCH and their SEXTON
The British medieval customs of drinking and feasting were carried into the colonies and a new custom of SHOOTING OFF GUNS was added
After 1750, colonies became stable and stability was restored into CHRISTIAN FUNERALS
SPECIFIC GARMENTS for mourners were characteristic of the south. (Formal Funeral Dress)
What is a Monkey Spoon?
A DUTCH custom where an ornate spoon often made of silver whose handle was intended to resemble an apostle but looked like an animal because of shoddy engraving.
It was given to pallbearers to commemorate their participation in the funeral.
Dutch funerals were primarily attended by ______
men.
there was feasting and drinking and then the estate was divided
What is an Aanspreecker?
A DUTCH licensed individual who can direct and oversee all funerals
The Embargo Acts, the Revolutionary War and the British coastal blockage during the War of 1812, forced the northeastern colonies to enter the _________ __________
industrial Revolution
After the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, a large influx of non British immigrants, mostly _____________ (__________) arrived with their own funeral customs
Germans (Lutherans)
Funeral directing, as a specific occupation, sprang forth after the ______ _____. Prior to then, it was called ________ ___________ which encompassed other tradesman and their efforts.
Civil War
Funeral Undertaking
Who were Tradesman Undertakers?
British style undertakers
What is a Slumber Couch?
A chaise lounge, only one end raised.
was used by Tradesman Undertakers, Nurses and Midwives for display of the deceased until the coffin arrived
Nurses and Midwives would advertise their services as “__________ _____ ___ _____ _____”
Layers out of the dead
Who is William Ensign?
An independent Patterson, New Jersey undertaker, in 1850 won his court case against the sextons monopoly in his area
Who is the “Inviter to Funerals”?
was a licensed position in the colonies and common between 1650 - 1700.
This licensed individual was paid by local government to be sure all were properly buried.
He was the FORERUNNER OF THE CORONER
The Furnishing Undertaker would be a silent backer for others to enter Funeral Directing if all materials were purchased from him. This was the origin of Funeral Suppliers and Manufacturers. However, this would all end after the enactment of what?
The Sherman Antitrust act of 1890
During the 19th century in America, three types of burial receptacles were used, chronologically listed.
Prior to 1840: traditional wooden coffin handcrafted in cabinet shop
1840 - 1870: mass production of metallic Fisk mummy case
1870 - 1900: cloth covered wood and metal coffins mass produced by furnishing undertakers
Earlier burial methods in colonial America consisted of wrapping the remains in a blanket or at best a cerecloth, “_____ ______”, and placing the remains uncoffined in a grave.
Winding Sheet
Who is James A Gray?
received the first American patent on a metallic coffin which he produced in his workshop in Richmond, VA
Who is John White?
received a patent to make coffins of stone, marble, and hydraulic cement.
The patent expired because they were hard to produce and extremely heavy
Credited for the first cement burial vault development
Who is Almond D. Fisk?
copied the Egyptian sarcophagus style mummy case with folded arms, made air tight of cast or raised metal and patented it in 1848.
Anthropoid shape
Who is A.C. Barstow?
patented the Ogee Design (front hinged perimeter drop down design) Made the Fisk lighter and less-spacious
Who is William Cooley?
first to develop the straight sided coffin.
He also used the word “CASKET” to describe his innovation
What is the Stein Patent Burial Casket?
Created a glass and wood casket - it was a failure
later replaced the glass with fabric and created the wooden cloth covered casket
Life signal coffins are also referred to as?
Fraud Coffins
Who is Christian Eisenbrandt?
Baltimore inventor who patented the spring loaded coffin
