Speaker: Jonathan Hamilt

Step into the shadowed elegance of the 19th century, when mourning wasn’t hidden away — it was part of the home. Join us for an evening exploring how Victorians navigated death, grief, and remembrance within their own parlors.

Through historic photographs, advertisements, and personal accounts, we’ll uncover how the domestic sphere became the stage for death’s rituals — from the careful display of the body to the rise of mourning attire and the transformation of front parlors into spaces of both loss and performance. Learn how cultural expectations, gender, class, and race shaped these practices, and how the “good death” of the Victorian era helped give rise to the modern funeral industry.

Come and enjoy an evening with us at the Crawford House while sipping on a cocktail or mocktail. Light refreshments will be served. This lecture is free to the public, though a donation is requested.