P.A. Birren & Son Funeral Homes records, 1868-1943

Collection is open for research use.

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

P.A. Birren & Son Funeral Homes records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Account books and other records of the P.A. Birren & Son Funeral Homes in Chicago (Ill.). The funeral business, later known as Birren Bros. and then as P.A. Birren & Son Funeral Homes, was founded in the early 1860s by Henry Birren and operated by Peter Birren, Alex Birren, and other family members in later decades. Most records are in bound volumes. Descriptions of undertaking services (1869-1943) usually include the deceased person's name, age, cause and date of death, attending physician, date and place of burial, burial permit number, amount billed, and names of relatives. Includes livery order books (1868-73, 1885-1933) that list the carriages and, later, limousines and supplies such as gloves and candles furnished, and 1 box of embalmer's licenses issued by the State of Illinois.

P.A. Birren & Son Funeral Homes, as it later came to be known, was founded in the early 1860s by Henry Birren (in addition to his earlier work as a blacksmith). The original location, on Clark Street near Ontario Street, was destroyed in the Great Fire. Henry Birren later opened funeral homes at several locations in Chicago. His son, Peter A. Birren, joined the family business; ca. 1884, he opened a location at 2927 North Lincoln Avenue. Other locations included 1356 West Wellington Street and 6125 North Clark Street.

• Subject
  • Family-owned business enterprises--Illinois--Chicago--19th century
  • Family-owned business enterprises--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Funeral rites and ceremonies--Illinois--Chicago--19th century
  • Funeral rites and ceremonies--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Funeral homes--Illinois--Chicago--19th century
  • Funeral homes--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Undertakers and undertaking--Illinois--Chicago--19th century
  • Undertakers and undertaking--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
• Names
  • Birren, Alex C.
  • Birren, Henry, 1812-1880
  • Birren, Peter A.
  • P.A. Birren & Son Funeral Homes--Archives
• Geographic Coverage
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Commerce--19th century
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Commerce--20th century
  • Edgewater (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Lakeview (Chicago, Ill.)
  • 1356 West Wellington Street (Chicago, Ill.)
  • 2927 North Lincoln Avenue (Chicago, Ill.)
  • 6125 North Clark Street (Chicago, Ill.)

The collection is arranged in three series.

Series 1. Funeral records (boxes 1-9)

This series consists of funeral records from 1869-1943, which were originally in bound books. After 1913, the records were changed to single sheets. The early records are written by hand in the books and give the name of the deceased, date of death, age, cause of death, attending physician, place and date of burial. The single sheets give more information concerning embalming and other services performed. The form stayed virtually the same until 1943 when it was changed to a more elaborate printed form.

Series 2. Livery orders (boxes 10-12)

This series contains livery orders dating from 1868-1873 and 1885-1933, which are all arranged in bound books and which list the carriages (later limousines) and supplies (gloves, candles etc.) furnished. The handwritten entries are arranged chronologically.

Series 3. Miscellaneous papers (boxes 13-15, 1 volume)

This series consists of the personal records-mostly financial-of Alex and Peter Birren. In addition, there are cemetery deeds, daily receipts and other financial papers. They are arranged alphabetically by subject.