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Title:
Burial Policy in England, 1939-1979: Interviews with Retired Cemetery Managers

Subject Categories:
Land use and planning - Environment, conservation and land use
Management and organisation - Industry and management
Social attitudes and behaviour - Society and culture
Use and provision of specific social services - Social welfare policy and systems

Depositor(s):
Rugg, J., University of York. Centre for Housing Policy

Principal Investigator(s):
Rugg, J., University of York. Centre for Housing Policy

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES 000-22-0333

Abstract:
The project reviewed the management of death in England in the period 1939-1979 using a number of methods, including interviews with retired cemetery managers. These interviews invited the respondents to detail their career in cemetery management and reflect on burial culture during that period. The interviews gave an insight into the way cemetery management was dealt with as a local authority service; the work of cemetery management, which included both technical aspects of the job and its ‘vocational’ quality with regard to contact with bereaved people; and changes in landscape style.

Further information may be found on the University of York Cemetery Research Group Burial policy and the management of death in England, 1939-79 web page, and on the Economic and Social Research Council Burial policy and the management of death in England, 1939-79 award web page.

Main Topics:
Topics covered in the interviews include career history, respondents' employment as cemetery managers, wartime experiences, changing social attitudes over time to death, bereavement and burial and landscape, local authority burial policy, cemetery managers' contact with their professional organisation (the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management), and the growth of cemetery management as a profession.

Coverage:
Time Period Covered: January 1936-December 1979
Some interviews cover the year 1936 onwards, depending on the individual respondent's career.
Dates of Fieldwork: June 2004-January 2005
Country: England
Spatial Units: No spatial unit
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Textual data; Individual (micro) level; Semi-structured interview transcripts; Interview summaries.

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:Subnational
Population:Retired cemetery and crematorium managers who were members of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, interviewed in 2004-2005.

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Volunteer sample
Number of Units: Nine interview transcripts
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview
Weighting: Not applicable.

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Qualidata, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: qualidata@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 22 February 2008

Copyright:
Copyright J. Rugg

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