Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Heilig Undertakers, American
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Child or Children
Unidentified Man or Men
Date
early - mid 20th century
Medium
gelatin and silver on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (mat): 8 × 10 1/16 in. (20.3 × 25.6 cm)
H x W (sheet): 5 1/16 × 7 1/16 in. (12.9 × 17.9 cm)
H x W (image): 4 3/4 × 6 7/8 in. (12.1 × 17.5 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of the first funeral of the Home Benefit Burial Club of Earle, Arkansas, serviced by Heilig Undertakers. A large group of men, women and children stand outdoors around a casket draped with flowers, in front of a large building with white-painted wood siding. The men and boys in the picture are wearing suits, and the women and girls are wearing knee- or calf-length dresses and hats. The men and women in the front row at center-right are wearing dark-colored clothing, while those who are gathered behind, arranged up the stairs into the building, are wearing light-colored clothing. In front of the light-colored casket, two young women kneel on either side, both wearing white, sleeveless dresses. The young girls gathered at center-left are also dressed in light-colored dresses and are holding bouquets of flowers. Behind the group, also at center-left, is a light-colored hearse with ornamental columns and faux-draping along the side. Handwritten at the lower left edge of the photograph is "Home Benefit Burial Club's / First Funeral."
Place depicted
Earle, Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Heilig Family Photography Collection
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
photographs
portraits
Topic
American South
Associations and institutions
Black Enterprise
Business
Communities
Funeral customs and rites
Societies
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Heilig Family Descendants
Object number
2016.27.7
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ee4ab322-d5bc-44c3-bf28-5139d4b1c80b

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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