Episode 36: Early American Protestantism and Death
From Death, et seq. by Tanya D. Marsh
February 16, 2026 · 50 min · Episode 37
About this episode
Tanya interviews Erik Seeman about early American attitudes towards death and the evolution of death care practices.
Tanya talks to Erik Seeman, a history Professor at University at Buffalo and the author of several books on early American attitudes towards death and death care practices, including Speaking with the Dead in Early America. Dr. Seeman's work helps us understand the worldview of those who shaped American funeral and cemetery law, and he also has some insights on how those views have changed over the past several centuries.
People in this episode
Host: Tanya D. Marsh
Guest: Erik Seeman
Topics covered
- Early American Protestantism
- Death care practices
- Funeral law
- Cemetery law
- Historical attitudes towards death
Keywords
- Protestantism
- death
- funeral practices
- cemetery law
- historical perspectives
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University at Buffalo
Books & works: Speaking with the Dead in Early America
More episodes of Death, et seq.
- Episode 46: Demystifying End of Life Planning Documents · April 27, 2026 · 20 min
- Episode 45: Empathy and End of Life with Stephanie Hopp · April 21, 2026 · 53 min
- Episode 44: The Strange Case of Jeremy DeWitte · April 13, 2026 · 26 min
- Episode 43: Regulating the Funeral Industry · April 6, 2026 · 30 min
- Episode 42: Green Burial with Suzanne Kelly · March 30, 2026 · 37 min
- Episode 41: Grave Goods · March 23, 2026 · 42 min
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