09/02/2026
Mary Louisa Burke: The Story Behind the Name — Part 6 | The Photographer and the Undertaker
Edward Stover Hadcock’s story takes an unexpected turn.
His obituary states that Edward attended the Woodstock College School of Medicine in Canada and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Embalming.
A photographer studying medicine and embalming?
It may seem like a strange combination to us today, but in the 19th century, there was actually a connection between these professions.
Photography was increasingly being used to create memorial portraits of people who had died, particularly when families could not afford a formal painted portrait.
A photograph could provide a cherished keepsake of a loved one who had passed away.
Photographers who also understood embalming and the preparation of the deceased could therefore offer an important service to grieving families.
Today, post-mortem photography can seem unsettling or even morbid. During the Victorian era, however, it could be a meaningful way for families to preserve the memory of someone they had lost.
So perhaps Edward’s education in medicine, embalming, and photography wasn't as unusual as it first appears.
A special thank you to Vicki Burke for generously sharing her family research and photographs with Annandale NHS. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share these fascinating Burke family stories with our wider Annandale NHS community and help bring Tillsonburg’s history to life.
