I'm sure you are wondering why I have posted such photos.
Well...they
are part of our family history...and I actually just came upon them
several years ago through a distant cousin who lives in Colorado.
Later, Aunt Eleonore told me that she remembered those photos hanging on
the wall in the top photo in her parents' (Albert and Ida Spoering
Elling) bedroom.
Do I have your attention?
These photos show my great-grandparents, Katharina Floke Spoering and Hermann Heinrich (Henry) Spoering at their death. Katharina died in April 1925 and Henry in March 1917.
It once was the custom ... and still is in some areas of our world ... to take photos of the dead. This postmortem photography was called Memento Mori - " Remember thy Mortality." This custom was most widespread in the 19th century, but hung on in some areas until about 1940, depending on local customs. It was a way to remember the deceased and in the earliest days, before photography was affordable and common, sometimes it was the only photo taken of an individual.
Katharine's photo, we can assume, was taken in her own home. The photos on the wall are of her and her husband. I have located a copy of her portrait photo, but not his. We can see that an undertaker was involved by the setting of the floral arrangements and the fact that the casket sits on an undertaker's carriage.
Henry's photo has been cut around, taking out the background area including the casket lid and the room. We can assume that it was probably taken in his home, however. His casket appears to sit directly on the floor. Near his waist lies a photo. I've tried to enlarge that area, and I think I can make out two small children, but I'm not sure. Affectionately, "Father" was penned onto the photo, probably by Lydia Spoering Loudon whose descendant provided me with these photos.
Photos like this were popular in their time and proudly displayed in homes. Some photographers advertised that they would take this type of photo as a special service, usually charging significantly for it since the photographer had to go to the subject within a limited time frame after the body was prepared for viewing. They also knew that, in some cases, this might be the only photo of a family member that would exist. It was a different era where mortality rates were higher and grief was dealt with in different ways. These photos were treasures to the families...and still are.
(This post originally appeared on the Elling Family News blog on July 21, 2009.)
Do I have your attention?These photos show my great-grandparents, Katharina Floke Spoering and Hermann Heinrich (Henry) Spoering at their death. Katharina died in April 1925 and Henry in March 1917.
It once was the custom ... and still is in some areas of our world ... to take photos of the dead. This postmortem photography was called Memento Mori - " Remember thy Mortality." This custom was most widespread in the 19th century, but hung on in some areas until about 1940, depending on local customs. It was a way to remember the deceased and in the earliest days, before photography was affordable and common, sometimes it was the only photo taken of an individual.
Katharine's photo, we can assume, was taken in her own home. The photos on the wall are of her and her husband. I have located a copy of her portrait photo, but not his. We can see that an undertaker was involved by the setting of the floral arrangements and the fact that the casket sits on an undertaker's carriage.
Henry's photo has been cut around, taking out the background area including the casket lid and the room. We can assume that it was probably taken in his home, however. His casket appears to sit directly on the floor. Near his waist lies a photo. I've tried to enlarge that area, and I think I can make out two small children, but I'm not sure. Affectionately, "Father" was penned onto the photo, probably by Lydia Spoering Loudon whose descendant provided me with these photos.
Photos like this were popular in their time and proudly displayed in homes. Some photographers advertised that they would take this type of photo as a special service, usually charging significantly for it since the photographer had to go to the subject within a limited time frame after the body was prepared for viewing. They also knew that, in some cases, this might be the only photo of a family member that would exist. It was a different era where mortality rates were higher and grief was dealt with in different ways. These photos were treasures to the families...and still are.
(This post originally appeared on the Elling Family News blog on July 21, 2009.)
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