- SOLDIERS' AIDE SOCIETY
- 19th Century Art of Mourning
- Remember me as you pass by
- As you are now so once was I
- As I am now you soon must be
- Prepare for death and follow me
49th VIRGINIA
Throughout history human kind have memorialized and mourned
their dead. Practices have differed from culture to culture and age to age.
Why focus on 19th century America?
During the reign of England's Queen Victoria (1837-1901), and upon the death
of her beloved Prince Albert in 1861, mourning practices would be forever
altered. With the onset of the American Civil War, and the tendency to
rely on the popular customs and traditions of European countries, these
rigid mourning practices quite naturally became a way of life in America.
Exposure to the mourning practices of this period offers a first hand
glimpse at the emotional, societal and sprirtual values of the 19th century American.
The contrast to present day practices is eye-opening. It was extremely
important in the Victorian age to show proper respect for the dead, not only
as an expression of loss but as an understanding of the popular
religious doctrines that evoked a sense of envy of the departed.
Etiquette books of the time offered advice on how one should properly
mourn a loss. Large department stores and specialty shops had departments
specifically devoted to mourning goods, and many of these items have survived.
Georgia Meadows has been an avid collector and an ardent student of
the subject for over 14 years. Her knowledge and personal collection rivals many museums.
Touch the lives of 19th century America. See original mourning dresses and
accessories spanning from 1840 to the turn of the century, gentleman's
mourning attire, mourning jewelry (including jewelry made from human hair),
memorial art and poetry, postmortem photography, and much more...
Available for Displays and Lectures
Contact Georgia Meadows at
E-mail
To see the 49th
Virginia Infantry Homepage click here
Throughout history human kind have memorialized and mourned their dead. Practices have differed from culture to culture and age to age.
Why focus on 19th century America?
During the reign of England's Queen Victoria (1837-1901), and upon the death of her beloved Prince Albert in 1861, mourning practices would be forever altered. With the onset of the American Civil War, and the tendency to rely on the popular customs and traditions of European countries, these rigid mourning practices quite naturally became a way of life in America.
Exposure to the mourning practices of this period offers a first hand glimpse at the emotional, societal and sprirtual values of the 19th century American.
The contrast to present day practices is eye-opening. It was extremely important in the Victorian age to show proper respect for the dead, not only as an expression of loss but as an understanding of the popular religious doctrines that evoked a sense of envy of the departed.
Etiquette books of the time offered advice on how one should properly mourn a loss. Large department stores and specialty shops had departments specifically devoted to mourning goods, and many of these items have survived.
Georgia Meadows has been an avid collector and an ardent student of the subject for over 14 years. Her knowledge and personal collection rivals many museums.
Touch the lives of 19th century America. See original mourning dresses and accessories spanning from 1840 to the turn of the century, gentleman's mourning attire, mourning jewelry (including jewelry made from human hair), memorial art and poetry, postmortem photography, and much more...
Available for Displays and Lectures
Contact Georgia Meadows at
E-mail
