1895 Post Mortem Cabinet Card of Mrs. Mary A. Cook

In a time before modern medicine and hospitals, maternal and infant mortality rates were high.  With the invention of photography it became common practice to photograph the deceased.  These images were kept as keepsakes, placed in the home as a memorial and tribute to their loved ones.  This practice was popular throughout the Victorian period but began to decline in the 1930s likely with how accessible photography became to the masses.  Most people were able to easily photograph themselves in life and there was less need to photograph people in death.  

This post mortem shows a bittersweet image of a woman at rest with lillies clutched in her hands.  On the back is written Mrs. Mary A Book, died March 20 1895, Age 27 years 7 months 26 days.  We were unable to find out too much about Mrs. Cook other than her maiden name, Hutchinson, and that she is buried in Clinton, Indiana.  This post mortem was taken by Gilbert, a well-known photographer based out of Frankfurt, Indiana in the late 1800s.  Written on the bottom in pencil is the phrase "Don't wake this".