Gone But Not Forgotten: Death and Mourning in the Victorian Era

Have you ever wondered why black is worn to a funeral, or why the deceased is surrounded by flowers? Where did the terms “saved by the bell” and “graveyard shift” come from? Did people really take pictures of the dead? Kathy Hartley, president of Friends of Hearthside, will lead a look back to the Victorian Era for answers to any questions about death customs and rituals.

This program is presented as part of the Center’s series “Eternal Rest: Death, Mourning and Memorials.” The series is made possible through major funding support from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders.