since 12/15/98		Columns::February 11, 2002 Weekly Reader Prof sees cultural history in obituaries $18 University Press of Mississippi In the obituaries of yesteryear, men were brave, gallant, vigilant, bold, honest, and dutiful. Women were patient, resigned, obedient, affectionate, amiable, pious, gentle, virtuous, tender, and useful. Written by UGA professor of journalism Janice Hume, Obituaries in American Culture surveys more than 8,000 newspaper obituaries from 1818 to 1930 to show what they reveal about American culture. In memorializing individual citizens, these obits from the 19th and early 20th centuries make a public expression of this country’s values. Far from being staid or morbid, these death notices offer a lively look at a changing America. They offer hints also about the way Americans have viewed death. Indeed, obits are little windows through which to view the nation’s cultural history. Mining the newspapers of New York City, New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco, Hume has produced a revealing look at how these public tributes to deceased citizens have conveyed expressions of American values. UGA Today supports QuickTime, Flash, RealPlayer and Acrobat Reader (PDF files). Download information about these plug-ins. Affiliate icons for UGA Today COLUMNS ] UGA Today ] Subscribe ] News Bureau ] Office of Public Affairs Directory ] Photo Services ] Broadcast, Video & Photography ] Master Calendar] Columns ] Georgia Magazine ]Visitors Center ] UGA Home ] Alumni ] Admissions ] UGA Directories ] Sports ] Weather ] Search UGA sites ] Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs. Beth Roberts: Columns editor, Juliett Dinkins: Columns managing editor, Janet Beckley: Columns art director. Peter Frey: Columns photo editor Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu Copyright 2001 University of Georgia. All rights reserved