Title: William M. Lamers and Robert W. Habenstein Manuscript
Inclusive Dates: 1955

Creators:

• Habenstein, Robert Wesley, 1914-
• Lamers, William M. (William Mathias), 1900-

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 34

Quantity: 1.0 cubic ft. (3 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Draft manuscript for the 1955 publication The History of American Funeral Directing, by William M. Lamers and Robert W. Habenstein.

Note:

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Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0034

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William M. Lamers along with Robert W. Habenstein published The History of American Funeral Directing in 1955. Both Habenstein and Lamers wrote several books on the history of funereal practices, social customs related to burial practices in America, and human responses to death, including Funeral Customs the World Over (1960). They also wrote extensively about the American family and American social structure.

William M. Lamers was born in 1900 and died in 1961. He was the assistant superintendent of schools in Milwaukee and the author of many books, including several on the Civil War. Robert W. Habenstein was born in 1914 and died in 2011. Habenstein was emeritus professor of sociology at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia. Besides The History of American Funeral Directing, he also co-wrote The Family in Various Cultures and Ethnic Families in America: Patterns and Variations.

This collection consists of the manuscript for the book The History of American Funeral Directing. The manuscript comprises a comprehensive look at the roots, origins, and practices of American funeral directing. The folders contain typewritten manuscript pages with both typed and handwritten corrections written in margins, between lines, and in some cases pasted over the original words.

The collection is arranged in chronological order.

Lamers, William M. and Robert W. Habenstein Manuscript, 1955, Collection 34. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Funeral Customs the World Over.

The History of American Funeral Directing.

• Planned Funeral Society of Wisconsin Records. Local History Manuscript Collection 373.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Howard C. Raether of the National Funeral Directors Association (sponsor of the book) in 1956. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Described by Jeffrey K. Carlin-Bartel, Volunteer Archivist, 2013. Processed by Daniela Reyes, Achieves Volunteer, 2018.

	The History of American Funeral Directing
Box   1 Folder   1	Preface, 1955
Box   1 Folder   2-8	Chapters 1-7, 1955
Box   2 Folder   1-5	Chapters 8-12, 1955
Box   3 Folder   1	Chapter 13, 1955
Box   3 Folder   2	Graves Registration (appendix), 1955