Montgomery Ward Monument Catalog

Heres a little bit more on the catalog blog series. This one deals with the Montgomery Ward and has a little comparison to the Sears Catalog.




There are 28 pages to the Montgomery Ward catalog but the Sears catalog was well over twice the size of this one at its peak. The Sears catalog began monument sales in the late 1880’s for several years before the independent production of the Monuments and Markers catalog in 1902. This continued on for several years before ceasing production in the 1940’s.

I am not sure if the markers are identifiable in any way so this makes examples a bit harder to track down. The images depicted in the advertisement are basic images with no outstanding characteristics. I have no idea really if they have no makers mark or if it says Sears, Roebuck and Co. or Montgomery Ward in a corner of the stone near the bottom. Despite searching extensively, I have yet to see any sign of a makers mark while searching online background information. I have yet to notice any in any cemeteries but have not looked for them either. As many sales as Sears had through catalog sales at that time, the potential number of markers in existence is staggering for them alone, not to mention other catalogs. The images are fairly common and may be see in most older cemeteries.


Not only could grave markers be purchases but the catalogs sold other things to decorate the grave site as well. Benches, urns, vases, fencing, and ceramic portraits were popular items as well. FYI for those interested:

http://quarriesandbeyond.org/articles_and_books/pdf/montgomery_ward_monument_catalog_1929.pdf

This a link to the 1929 Montgomery Ward Catalog. Its best to save this to a computer and then print it out if you are interested in doing so. That sums it up this edition on catalogs anyway.


Lance

Heres some examples from catalog pages of tombstone markers that I managed to track down on the web. The Sears catalog began monument sales in the late 1880’s for several years before the independent production of the Monuments and Markers catalog in 1902. This continued on for several years before ceasing production in the 1940’s.

Upon talking to a friend of mine, John Martine, I was impressed with the number of catalogs (at least two other companies produced catalogs) that existed from which monuments could be purchased. The variety of styles is impressive as well. He shared some of the images from these catalogs with me and I am truly grateful.