FSE 112.1901 Module Four. FTCC.
Sanitary Reform:
State governments put reliance upon their own health organization in meeting the problems of epidemics and plagues. Religious leaders also called for better health measures in sanitary reform. There was also a concern about disposal of the dead and the menace of overcrowded urban graveyards.
Discuss the beginnings of: ABFSE pt 2:
The American Board of Funeral Service was originally the Joint Committee on Mortuary Education of the NFDA. This was a group of educators who examined the work of a funeral director and programs of mortuary education. They published The Future of Funeral Service Education based on a national survey, and they made recommendations for revisions and upgrading of mortuary education and funeral service. In 1959, the Joint Committee was renamed the American Board of Funeral Service. From 1960-1972, the American Board was active in seeking recognition from the U. S. Office of Education as the official accrediting agency for mortuary science schools. In its Articles of Incorporation, the American Board sought to formulate standards of funeral service education and to give accreditation to proper colleges of Mortuary Sciences.
What was the importance of the "Chicago Undertakers Association"?
The Chicago Undertakers Association was founded for the purposes of mutual protection, dispensing information and setting of preliminary standards for operation of their trade.
Discuss the beginnings of: f) Casket Manufacturers Association
22 casket manufacturers and 3 other funeral supply companies founded the Casket Manufacturers Association in 1913. It later became the Casket & Funeral Supply Association of America. This association serves its memberships through the collection and aggregation of statistical and credit information that is useful to funeral supply companies; presentation of educational programs and seminars to the funeral supply industry; liaison activities with other state and national associations, etc.
Who was Allen Durfee?
Allen Durfee was a well-known Grand Rapids undertaker and chemist of embalming fluid. He initiated Michigan Funeral Director?s Association first state convention. Durfee also became the President of the Michigan FDA and called for a National Convention of undertakers for the purpose of organizing a National Association. Durfee believed that through meetings and associations, there could be educational improvement to the profession
Discuss the beginnings and practices of: a) American Board of Funeral Service Education
American Board of Funeral Service Education: a nationally recognized accrediting agency for funeral service education. The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) serves as the national academic accreditation agency for college and university programs in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Education. ABFSE is the sole accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation in this field.
Quarantine:
Quarantine was recognized as a way of controlling epidemics of cholera and yellow fever that plagued the country. The Quarantine Act was passed by Congress in 1893 and amended in 1901. It was recommended that quarantine be brought under the jurisdiction of the federal government, so Congress established a National Board of Health with a term of 4 years. Today it is the U. S. Public Health Service.
What was the "Code of Ethics"?
The Code of Ethics came about as a result of the recognition of a need to develop a sense of inner-cohesion or colleagueship among funeral directors and to establish a sense of responsibility. At the 3rd meeting of the National Association, the Code of Ethics was established and patterned after other professional codes of the time, alternating between statements of a general type indicating the character and occupational morality aimed at and injunctions against specific kinds of action. It emphasized the necessity of obeying the law and of maintaining a high standard of conduct.
Discuss the beginnings of: d) Jewish Funeral Directors of America
The Jewish Funeral Directors of American, a national association, was chartered in October of 1928 under the laws of the State of Illinois. It is headquartered in New York. Its purpose is to serve members of the Jewish faith ? Conservative, Reformed and Orthodox ? by helping those of the Jewish faith to arrange meaningful and affordable funerals in the customs and traditions of the Jewish funeral.
What was the importance of the "Michigan Funeral Directors Association"?
The Michigan Funeral Directors Association was successful in organizing the first state convention of undertakers. The Michigan association served as the prototype for other state organizations as well the national association. The Michigan FDA also played a role in establishing the national association.
Discuss the beginnings and practices of: National Association of Colleges in Mortuary Sciences:
The NACMS is a group of mortuary science colleges that are privately owned and are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service.
How did the National Funeral Directors Association begin?
The NFDA was founded in 1882 at the first National Convention initiated by Allen Durfee and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. The Convention was held at City Hall of Rochester. Three significant events occurred at this convention that contributed to the NFDA?s beginnings. First, the organization of the body ? the NFDA would function as the parent organization for state organizations. Second, the organization was named The Funeral Directors? National Association of the United States (later NFDA). The third feature that marked the first convention was the close relationship manifested between the national convention and the suppliers of funeral goods. A major factor motivating the organization of this association was the funeral directors desire to professionalize their occupation.
What has been the popularity of cremation in America since 1876?
As the number of crematories grew, the number of cremations also increased. Between 1876 and 1884, there were 41 cremations as compared to 13, 281 in 1900. There were cremation societies formed to promote the idea of cremation. Greater supporters of cremation included the medical profession and sanitarians. The Cremation Association of America was established to embrace all who favored cremation. They felt that cremation was the answer to a more sanitary and more aesthetic method of disposing of the dead. Cremation was an integral part of ?burial reform.? Cremation is still increasing in popularity today. The rate of cremation climbed from 3.5 % of total deaths to 25.39% between 1960 and 1999.
Discuss the beginnings and practices of: Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards:
Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards: an organization established in 1904 that is concerned with coordinating the activities related to the structure, test format and grading process for the National Board Exam. It also serves as a clearinghouse for licensure information, provides examinations for state boards and acts as a resource for state laws, rules and regulations for its memberships. The Conference had its beginnings in 1903, when a group of state licensing boards came together in St. Louis to discuss their common problems in transporting bodies across state lines. In 1904, the second meeting of this organization adopted the name ?The Joint Conference of Embalmer?s Examining Boards and State Boards of Health.? In 1928, the organization began to consider the question of accrediting schools of Mortuary Science and education and a system of grading schools was established. By 1934, 27 states had adopted rules and regulations that applicants for licensure had to be graduates of Conference approved schools. In 1930, the Conference established the first National Board Examination that was sent directly to State Boards for grading. By 1932, an exam marking committee was established to grade the exams and report the results back to the respective State Boards. In 1940, the organization?s name was changed to ?The Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards of the United States and in 1997, International was added to the name to reflect the Canadian membership.
Describe the first crematory in America and its creator:
Dr. F. Julius LeMoyne, a physician, erected America?s first crematory in 1876 in Washington, PA. He constructed the building primarily for the incineration of his own body and those of his friends. I am told that the first cremation took several days to complete. The unit used heating oil instead of LP or Natural gas like today.
Discuss the beginnings of: e) National Foundation of Funeral Service
The National Foundation of Funeral Services (NFFS) was organized in 1945 as an incorporation of the Illinois educational trust. The mission was to establish a funeral service educational institute that would improve mortuary management. In 1996, the NFFS merged with the NFDA Educational Foundation and became the Funeral Service Educational Foundations (FSEF). It is a not-for-profit educational trust that is funded by trust proceeds, tax-exempt gifts and grants and participants? program fees. The foundation is a resource for the latest funeral service related publications and other materials for professional development.
Discuss the beginnings of the: a) National Selected Morticians:
The National Selected Morticians, founded on September 17, 1917, was a limited membership organization. There were 10 funeral directors from various areas of the country who met to discuss better public understanding of funeral service and the need for improving the practice of funeral service. These 10 funeral directors became the founders. The name of the Organization was changed to Selected Independent Funeral Homes in 2000, but they still have the purpose of inviting funeral directors to share their experiences, ideas, and knowledge with other members. Its offices are in Northbrook, IL.
Discuss the beginnings of: c) Order of the Golden Rule
The Order of the Golden Rule was officially formed May 1928. Its basic goal was to help its members make good use of both promotional and business services that were not readily available through other funeral service organizations. The International Order of the Golden Rule traces its root to the Hahn Rodenburg Advertising Agency of Springfield, IL who provided a variety of advertising programs to funeral directors. Although many changes have occurred since its inception, including the FTC?s Funeral Rule, the Order of the Golden Rule have remained steadfast in maintaining the principle cornerstone of the foundations upon which they were built: ?Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.?
Describe the General Public Health Movement:
The Public Health Movement in American was initiated with the publication of the "Report of the Massachusetts Sanitary Commission" in 1850. This body recommended the establishment of a sanitary police, with state and local health departments, and a careful collection and analysis of vital statistics. The Massachusetts State Board of Health was the first of it kind in the nation.
What were some of the early trade magazines or papers that we had as a profession?
The Undertaker: the first trade paper; later changed to the Sunnyside The Casket: The Western Undertaker (later became The American Funeral Director) The Shroud: published by Richard McGowan, a casket salesman The Embalmer Our Casket The National Undertaker The Embalmer?s Monthly: appealed to the embalming side of funeral service National Funeral Service Journal
What was the "Undertakers Mutual Protective Association of Philadelphia"?
The Undertakers Mutual Protective Association of Philadelphia was the first formal organization of undertakers. This group adopted a constitution and kept a ?Black Book? of objectionable and delinquent customers for their members? use.
Discuss the beginnings and practices of: The University Mortuary Science Educational Association.
The University Mortuary Science Educational Association is a group of publicly owned schools that offer a program in mortuary science.
Discuss the beginnings of: b) State funeral directors associations
The development of state funeral directors associations had its beginnings with the organization of the Philadelphia, Chicago and Michigan associations. These associations were established for the purposes of mutual protection, dispensing information and setting of preliminary standards for operation of the trade. In 1881, many states began to form associations.
The First Code of Ethics:
The first Code of Ethics emphasized that high moral principles was the guide of a funeral director. Funeral directors should maintain a high standard of conduct at all times. The code appeared among the various trade papers and journals. The most controversial section of the Code of Ethics was about advertising. The National Association adopted the Code of Ethics in 1884.
How did state licensing laws affect our trade becoming a profession?
The funeral trade becoming a profession was challenged by the lack of state laws for licensing. Although some states had scattered bit of legislation regarding embalming and burial of the dead, they lacked formal licensing laws. Some state legislators felt that funeral service legislation was passed only to secure the benefit the funeral director and that it constituted an impediment to the development of much needed licensing laws.
Discuss the specific movement for Cremation that provided its beginnings in America:
The movement to introduce cremation of the dead in American funeral customs precipitated legislative bodies to seek a program of funeral reform that would restrict funeral expenses. There was protest of extravagance in dress and gift giving at funerals as well as a movement toward cremation due to sanitary concerns with disposal of the dead by grave burial.
