Research guide
National Memorial Co Catalog And Pricelist
A circa-1902 advertising catalog and price list from the National Memorial Co. of Northfield, Vermont, a printer of Victorian funeral memorial cards, with notes on its dating, pricing, and format.
Memorial Panels, or Memorial Cards as they are often called, were extremely popular in the Victorian era. Intended to be sent to friends and loved ones to notify them of a death, they were often kept as mementos of the deceased.
The following is the National Memorial Co Catalog And Pricelist, one of the leading makers of these cards in the United States.
1901 Funeral MEMORIAL CARDS advertising CATALOG National Memorial Co.
This advertising Catalog and price list from the National Memorial Co. is undated, but circa 1902 the National Memorial Co was a company that specialized in the printing of funeral memorial cards. Established in 1876, the National Memorial Co. was located in Northfield, Vermont. I don't know when this catalog was printed but I would guess sometime in the very early 1900's, as that is the latest date printed on any of the facsimile cards illustrated in the catalog is 1901 and most were from the 1890's. You could choose any number of selections of memorial poetry to be printed on the card of your choice and all orders had to be pre-paid. You could purchase as little as a single card for 15 cents, all the way up to 100 for $5.00. There is no mention in the brochure of having your loved ones picture printed on them. The cards appear to be available only in the traditional cabinet card size (4¼" x 6½") of the late 1800's.
The 4¼" x 6½" 8-page catalog is actually a single-sheet (printed on both sides) which is folded in half and then in half again. It opens to 8½" x 13" when unfolded.
By reading a catalogue such as this, one can learn much about the customs and values of the past.
I hope you find this of intrest.
