Left, John Alexander Hanly, 6 months, 11 days old. 1895. Middle, Woman holding deceased baby in a tenement stairwell, with light coming from a skylight. About 1860. Right, Deceased mother, propped up to hold her living baby. Names appear to be Esther and Mamye Turley. 1912.
Creepy now...but part of our history.
We've always took pics of our loved ones at funerals. Never knew it was weird until we creeped some people out showing the pics.LOL
When my daughter died of SIDS at 3 months, 27 days, the hospital ER staff provided a Polariod camera plus materials to make hand/foot prints. It did help.
My son was born when I was 20 weeks pregnant. The only picture I have of him was after he died. Better that, than not having any picture at all. When the hospital told me that they'd take pictures of him, I thought it was a little weird, too. It was extremely hard to look at, at first. But I am forever thankful to them for this treasure. It's the only thing I have to remind me of what he looked like. I only wish I had a picture of me holding him.
I think that people back then were probably more comfortable with death. Infant, childhood, and maternal mortality, for one, was much much more common.
Hey, I can understand that.
Here's today's equivalent: LifeGem
This was a custom in my family until my kids flipped out over it. I have pictures of a dead uncle in his casket, he died at age 18. Not many folks in the 1920s had cameras.
JFK's fatal head wound -- The truth for those who want to know (very graphic)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1027256/posts
Speaking from a Funeral Directors point of view here, we get asked quite often to photograph the dead while in a casket or videotape the funeral. Obviously there's a healing process that goes on by doing this from the feedback I hear, and as I can tell by reading these replies.
This article seems to be for photographic exhibit purposes. I'm not quite sure what to think about that.
Hey - I googled my name and found this forum, anyhow, I'm the collector of the photos that are currently being exhibited the history museum. I'm glad that the show is getting such a positive response and that people are interested in my research. My website is www.newmourning.com - right now there isn't much info, but soon there will be alot more information about the history of post mortem photography for anyone who's interested - my sites condition is embaressing right now... but it should be totally rehauled very soon. and to any parents or anyone else who is interested in modern post mortem photography - should visit www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org
Hello, I am an academic researcher (graduate student) in the discipline of sociology. I specialize in the sociology of health and well being and am very interested in postmortem photography and its use in the grieving process. Do you own those photos? I have written a manuscript that I am revising and need to find some postmortem photos to accompany it for publication in a journal article. Can anyone help me?
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Finally...an explanation. |
