The Research Center for Special Collections & Archives at EKU has recently acquired a collection of funeral programs from the African American community in Richmond, Kentucky. These programs are valuable not only for their emotional significance, reflecting the love for the departed, but also for their genealogical importance. The obituaries often include family histories, allowing researchers to trace lineages and record family connections. They typically provide the deceased’s full name, birthplace, and details about their parents, siblings, and children. For many formerly enslaved African Americans, names were often derived from the family that owned them, so having access to a full name is crucial for understanding their origins. Over time, funeral programs have evolved significantly in design, and it’s fascinating to observe these changes. The design of each program reflects the individual’s role in the community, with distinctions made for veterans, religious leaders, and political figures. In the past, many programs were simple and uniform in appearance. Today, however, they are often vibrant, filled with photographs of the deceased and their loved ones, celebrating the lives they led and the memories they leave behind.
If you would like to discover more about the African American funeral programs in our collection, you can browse online, or visit us in person.
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