Thursday, September 26, 2013

What has changed over the last century?

Since the 20th century, we have see a change from the undertaker to the funeral director, from coffins to caskets, and the embalming process.
"undertaker" refers to the person who "under took" responsibility for funeral arrangements. Many of the early undertakers were furniture makers because building caskets was a logical extension of their business. For them, undertaking was a second business rather than a primary profession. - See more at: http://www.funeralwise.com/learn/industry#sthash.Hw7emTib.dpuf

The "undertaker" was the person who "under took" responsibility for the funeral arrangements of the deceased. Undertakers in earlier times were typically furniture makers and building caskets was a  second business rather than a primary business/profession (FuneralWise).


Undertaker waiting
picture source: Schmidt, B. (n.d.). Mark Twain's Quarrel with Undertakers - It All Begins with Jennie Clemens. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from http://www.twainquotes.com/jennie.html

As far as embalming, it actually dates back to the time of the Egyptians, but became more popular around the time of the Civil War when they had to bring the bodies back home, but developed more over time into a profession. 
Another change is the coffins/caskets. It was the undertakers that made the coffins in the early 20th century or a family member, but this later became a professional business where large companies now make them. The styles and designs/options have dramatically increased since the 20th century.
undertakers made the coffins

Egyptians
Egyptians


Funeral Wise (n.d.). History of the Funeral Industry | Funeralwise. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from http://www.funeralwise.com/learn/industry#sthash.Hw7emTib.dpuf


picture sources:Neighbors, J. (2012, August 10). A Grave Interest: History of Coffins & Caskets. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/2012/08/history-of-coffins-caskets.html
 and 
Casket Showcase (n.d.). Caskets for Sale | Discount Caskets | Caskets Online | Funeral Caskets | Cheap Caskets | Discount Caskets. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from http://www.casketshowcase.com/

KnightSilver6020

"undertaker" refers to the person who "under took" responsibility for funeral arrangements. Many of the early undertakers were furniture makers because building caskets was a logical extension of their business. For them, undertaking was a second business rather than a primary profession. - See more at: http://www.funeralwise.com/learn/industry#sthash.Hw7emTib.dpuf
Undertaker
Undertaker

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