For approximately fifty years after the Civil War, a popular way to memorialize young children who had passed was a figure resting in a half shell. Prior to 1900, twenty-two percent of all children in the United States died before their first birthday.
The shell can represent a pilgrimage, spiritual protection, and innocence. Using those meetings, it makes sense this became a symbol for child graves.
Wealthier families would employ sculptors to make one that represented their child. Poor families, who wanted their children memorialized, adopted the shell as a way to mark graves when Sears Roebuck offered them in their catalog.
Here is a great academic article about these monuments by Annette Stott.
Cinderella Cooper (1885-1887), Evergreen CemeteryHarry (1886-1892) and Nellie (1888-1892) Roberts, Kennesaw City CemeteryApril Lee Porterfield (1975-1988), McDonough City CemeteryRuby Colley (1899-1890), Morgan Methodist Church Cemetery
Located in Marietta, Georgia, JonBenét Ramsey’s (1990-1996) final resting place is in St. James Episcopal Cemetery. I am always fascinated by what people leave as mementos for the departed. While I took this photo a few years ago, it is clear still visit her regularly to pay their respects. As I write this, the 25th anniversary of her death is only a few days away. It does not seem that 25 years has passed since her murder captured the nation’s attention.
Located in the Marietta City Cemetery, this memorial for Mary Annie Gartrell (1853-1906) was erected by her sister Lucy. The grieving sister visited her sister’s grave twice a week, often on foot and in black, for the next 48 years. She became known as the “Lady in Black.”
