Richwood West Virginia Post Mortem Baby In Coffin Colored Flowers 1907 Real Photo Postcard

Post-mortem photography, prevalent from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, served as a crucial grieving ritual, particularly for infants and young children during periods of high mortality rates. These photographs offered families a tangible and often only visual remembrance of their deceased loved ones, capturing a final, idealized image before burial. The practice reflects a different cultural approach to death, where it was often a visible part of domestic life rather than solely relegated to professional funeral homes.