Women in Mourning exhibit opens, Sod House Museum

The Sod House Museum will be opening a new exhibit, Women in Mourning on May 1. The central feature of this exhibit will be a black dress trimmed in purple along with a black lace shawl and accessories. These items date from around the early 1900s, and the dress was worn in the third stage of mourning known as half mourning. The exhibit also will include items in the home and changes made to them until the deceased family member was buried.

The length of time mourners were expected to wear black garments was based on culture, gender and the relationship to the deceased. Western societies marked a loved one’s death by wearing funeral clothes for months, even years. For example, a nineteenth- or early twentieth-century widow would mourn for two and a half years.

Full mourning lasted a full year and a day. During this stage, crepe covered the whole body and every inch of skin. Only black was appropriate. Secondary mourning lasted nine months, and only partial crepe and additional fancier fabrics, such as velvet and silk, trimmings, adornments and fringe were used. Half mourning lasted six months, with ordinary clothes of gray, white, purple, violet, soft mauve and black. A widow was finally able to wear jewelry, belts and clothes with buttons.

For specific periods of time a widow would not leave her home nor receive any visitors, and social events were not permitted during the first two stages of mourning.

In the home, anything reflective or shiny would be covered, such as mirrors and glass of any kind. Crepe also would be draped over fireplace mantels, windows, shelves and other household items. Clocks would be stopped at the time of death and would not be restarted until the burial was over. Window curtains and shades also were drawn and shutters closed.

These standards were strictly maintained through the Civil War period and even into the beginning of the twentieth century in high society.

Today, few people wear black clothing during bereavement. Expectations and demands were lowered and a quiet kind of sympathy now is offered.

The Sod House Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and is located southeast of Aline on State Highway 8. For more information contact Director Renee Trindle at 580-463-2441 or sodhouse@okhistory.org.