In 1973, Michael Lesy published an artful arrangement of late-19th century newspaper clippings and otherworldly photographs from a small town in Wisconsin. He called it Wisconsin Death Trip. Photos of children in coffins–along with text chronicling murder, insanity, disease, and suicide–can be shocking to a 21st century audience. But what was it like for the people who lived through it? This audio slide show includes an interview with Lesy and images from the book, in addition to other images of Victorian post-mortem photography.

Related Links:

• Browse more Victorian post-mortem photography at Thanatos.net
• View more “Wisconsin Death Trip” photos at the Wisconsin Historical Society
• See how post-mortem photography is used by mourners today