Post Mortem Photography Photo Gallery by Gregory Sullivan at pbase.com

Post Mortem Photography

A small collection of post mortem photos from the 1870s and 1880s to the present day. These photos are taken usually by the family of the departed. It was common practice to do this as photography was expensive and many did not have the money for photos in life. When a child died they wanted to remember their child so the photograph was taken. Included in part of my collection are a large variety of Memorial Cards it was common to give these out at funerals as we do today please see my Memorial Card Collection. A lot of people think that this is strange but to me it is just a part of life and I find this very interesting. I am trying to some how document funeral customs of the past and present. To show people how the styles of caskets and coffins changed and how the styles of pictures changed over the years. I have been collecting for a number of years now . I plan on posting some other photos from my collection in the near future so please look back for updates. If you have any comments or questions please do not hesitate to contact me at GregoryRSullivan@Gmail.com . If you have any Postmortem photographs that you would like to donate to the collection please feel free to e mail me. I do not sell the photos ! Thank you for your interest.

Montreal Circa 1870		Is this child dead I can't say for sure ?
Adair Ontario Circa 1910	Circa 1890	Circa 1880
Dead ? I can't say for sure .	Germany Circa 1890	Toronto Ontario Canada Circa 1880
Montreal Circa 1880	Montreal Circa 1880	Montreal Circa 1890
Montreal Circa 1880	Montral Circa 1870 Notice the Box under the chin! If you look closely you will see what looks like a box under the child's cloths. I believe that he has passed as this photos came with many other postmortem photos. His hand may have fallen during the photo process. The photo is by one of Montreal premier photographers for this type of photo( postmortem). I have had many comment on this image and I am now perplexed is he alive or has he left his body?	Canada 1940s?
My Great Grandfather's Masonic Funeral Prosession Fraserburgh Scotland	Lodge Solomon 197 Fraserburgh Scotland	govenor Genaral of Quebec 1800s
an empty mauseulem	casket container in a mouseulem	Montreal cemetary2003
Governor General of Quebec and family19th century	Advertisement	crime scene
In the hospital and then you know where	Parents mourning	Circa 1920
Germany 1920		Memorial for father

Sad	Show I was involved in
Europe some where	A small collection	Toronto Life magazine article about my collection Feb edition
Original arm band Queen Victoria circa 1901	The sign say's I have no regrets!	Cobalt Ontario 1900,s
Cobalt Ontario 1900,s	Toronto Archives.	Toronto archives Early Toronto Funeral.
Toronto Archives Photo Funeral of Oliver Mowat.	Toronto Archives Halifax Victims.	Halifax explosion 1917 victims funeral Toronto Archives.
Eaton funeral. I had someone e mail to say that this information may not be accurate! So here is what they wrote . Thank you I DOUBT THAT THE "EATON FUNERAL", IS AS SUGGESTED. (SIR JOHN EATON'S FUNERAL.) 1) MID, TO LATE '30s. 2) CLOTH COVERED COFFIN. 3) SERVICE NOT AT THE TIMOTHY EATON CHURCH. 4) LADY EATON/JOHN JR NOT TO BE SEEN. NOTE: OF THE TWO MEN FACING EACH OTHER, WILLIAM (BILL) MILES IS ON THE LEFT (ALFRED ROGERS BEHIND HIM) AND MILES' OWN COACH DRIVER IS ON THE RIGHT.	Eaton funeral 2. I DOUBT THAT THE "EATON FUNERAL", IS AS SUGGESTED. (SIR JOHN EATON'S FUNERAL.) 1) MID, TO LATE '30s. 2) CLOTH COVERED COFFIN. 3) SERVICE NOT AT THE TIMOTHY EATON CHURCH. 4) LADY EATON/JOHN JR NOT TO BE SEEN. NOTE: OF THE TWO MEN FACING EACH OTHER, WILLIAM (BILL) MILES IS ON THE LEFT (ALFRED ROGERS BEHIND HIM) AND MILES' OWN COACH DRIVER IS ON THE RIGHT.	Eaton Funeral Toronto Archives. I DOUBT THAT THE "EATON FUNERAL", IS AS SUGGESTED. (SIR JOHN EATON'S FUNERAL.) 1) MID, TO LATE '30s. 2) CLOTH COVERED COFFIN. 3) SERVICE NOT AT THE TIMOTHY EATON CHURCH. 4) LADY EATON/JOHN JR NOT TO BE SEEN. NOTE: OF THE TWO MEN FACING EACH OTHER, WILLIAM (BILL) MILES IS ON THE LEFT (ALFRED ROGERS BEHIND HIM) AND MILES' OWN COACH DRIVER IS ON THE RIGHT.
Europe 1950s	Europe 1950s	Europe
Europe	Europe This photo was made in Lithuania. The boy's cause of death is drowning in the river Nemunas. I found it written behind grieving relatives on the white ribbon.	Europe
Europe	This photo was with the Europian Photos	A nice poem to give to Funeral Directors and Staff


Interesting Photo What is in her hand? This interesting photo was sent to me . Thank you so much for sending me this most interesting photo! I wish I could figure out what the woman is holding in her hand. I really like the head stone with its primitive form.

comment |

lucy hellums		14-Jan-2013 01:35
these pictures look like these people arent dead. but some look rather scary. but bless their hearts i fell soo sad, and why do do people; in those times had only their pictures taken at time of death.i have read that earlier 1800.s to mabe 1700.s to the early 1900.s thay would use the kitchen, or bedroom; sometimes called the death room; would actually burey theire loved ones in the back yard. lucy

Guest		26-Sep-2011 14:37
In picture three, I don't think the child is dead. Mom appears to be dead.

J T CUNNINGHAM		19-Jan-2009 02:48
I DOUBT THAT THE "EATON FUNERAL", IS AS SUGGESTED. (SIR JOHN EATON'S FUNERAL.) 1) MID, TO LATE '30s. 2) CLOTH COVERED COFFIN. 3) SERVICE NOT AT THE TIMOTHY EATON CHURCH. 4) LADY EATON/JOHN JR NOT TO BE SEEN. NOTE: OF THE TWO MEN FACING EACH OTHER, WILLIAM (BILL) MILES IS ON THE LEFT (ALFRED ROGERS BEHIND HIM) AND MILES' OWN COACH DRIVER IS ON THE RIGHT.

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment