African Americans -- Funeral customs and rites

Scope and Contents The Joseph Geddes Family papers pertain to several generations of an African American family with multi-generational ties to Louisiana who owned and operated several businesses, including funeral parlors and life insurance companies that date back to the early 20th century. The papers consist of professional, as well as personal, papers and contain photographs, scrapbooks, memory books, a memorial record book, correspondence, programs, and newspaper clippings relating to the family...

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This panoramic photograph includes members of the National Negro Funeral Directors Association, which met in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during August 11-15, 1946. The photograph is by Fred Hess & Son of Atlantic City and was taken in front of the West Side All Wars Memorial.

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The records of the New Orleans Embalmers Association include correspondence, news clippings, minutes, lists, stationary, and two record books (1952-56 and 1967-85) that contain meeting minutes and organizational financial records. Also included are some collected materials from the Louisiana State Colored Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.

Scope and Contents The papers of California native and New Orleans-based photographer Christopher Porche West contain photographs, printed ephemera, correspondence, news clippings and other collected items that document West's interest in the history and culture of New Orleans' African American and Creole communities. The strengths of the West papers are the numerous prints of photographs taken by West, as well as the collection of materials formed by him as part of his research on the history and...