Memorial Society of New Hampshire Records

Background on Memorial Society of New Hampshire

Formed in the wake of investigative journalist Jessica Mitford's 1958 book exposé of exploitative funeral industry practices, The American Way of Death the Memorial Society of New Hampshire was registered as a non-profit organization on Dec 12, 1963 in Epping, NH as a watchdog and consumer advocacy organization for consumers of funeral services. Like similar organizations around the country, the Memorial Society was federated with other similar organizations to create the Continental Association of Funeral and Memorial Societies (CAFMS). When Canadian groups separated from CAFMS, the federation name changed to Funeral and Memorial Societies of America (FAMSA), and later (2000) the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA). As part of their work, they: conducted surveys of funeral home prices, generated newsletters, informational pamphlets, and end of life planning documents, organized informational programs, lobbied local and state legislatures to reform laws around funeral and burial practices. Their tax exempt status was revoked in 2011 after not filing 990 tax forms for three consecutive years.