Guide to the John Lorkovich Undertakers Record Book, 1910-1915., AIS.2019.02
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- John Lorkovich Undertakers Record Book
- Creator
- Lorkovich, John
- Collection Number
- AIS.2019.02
- Extent
- 0.21 Linear Feet (1 volume)
- Date
- 1910-1915
- Abstract
- John Lorkovich was an undertaker who operated a funeral business on Pittsburgh's North Side, which consisted primarily of clients from the Croatian immigrant community. Included here is a single volume of 598 funeral case records dating from 1910-1915. An name index to the volume is included.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acqusition Information
Gift of Ruth McCartan on behalf of the Allegheny City Society on January 19, 2019.
Biography
John Lorkovich was a funeral director on Pittsburgh's North Side for 30 years (c1907-1937). The business opened at 1324 East Ohio Street, Pittsburgh's North Side, one lot west of the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church (Croatian). From the records of his business it is clear that the Croatian community, particularly those that settled in the North Side and in the Lawrenceville neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, were his primary clients. Likewise, most of the funeral services were conducted through St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church.
The 1910 directory for Pittsburgh is the first time Lorkovich can be found listed as an "undertaker". Following the listing through the years, Lorkovich's business relocated several times following his establishment at 1324 East Ohio Street. From 1911 through 1915 he is listed at 1001 East Ohio, and in 1916 and 1917 at 1009 East Ohio, in 1918 at 816 Lockhart Street, and finally in 1919 and through the remainder of his life his business and residence is located at 860 Lockhart Street. An exact date when the business disbanded is not known, but presumably it was about the time of John Lorkovich's death in 1937.
Lorkovich was born on January 17, 1878 in Croatia to Martin Lorkovich and Franca Simunovich. Both of his parents were from Prilisce in Croatia (later Yugoslavia). He was married twice. His first spouse was Annie Kobe, who died April 9, 1909, at the age of 25 years. His second spouse was Anna Mitkovic, who died on March 20, 1961 at the age of 78 years. He and his first spouse had a least two daughters, Barbara (b. 1905) and Catherine (b. 1906). According to the 1920 Census, Lorkovich immigrated to the United States in 1897 and became a naturalized citizen in 1905. Lorkovich died on December 5, 1937 at his residence at 860 Lockhart Street on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Members of the Lorkovich family are interred at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Ross Township, Pennsylvania.
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Previous Citation
John Lorkovich Undertakers Record Book, 1910-1915, AIS.2019.02, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David R. Grinnell in February 2019.
Related Material
Allegheny County, Pa. Coroner's Office Records, 1884-1976, AIS.1982.07, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
Bartol Francic on Croatians in Western Pennsylvania Collection, 1897-1968, AIS.1976.06, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
Javor Singing Society Records, 1905-1941, AIS.1978.02, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
Stjepan Gazi, Croatian Immigration to Allegheny County 1882-1914. Pittsburgh, PA: Croatian Fraternal Union of America. 1956. F157.A4 G39 1956
Scope and Content Notes
This collection consists of a single record book containing the case records of funeral services provided by John Lorkovich. While the name of the business appears nowhere in the records, a search of Pennsylvania death certificates and the Allegheny County Coroner's Case Files for some of the individuals listed in the records confirms that John Lorkovich was the undertaker who was given charge of funeral services. The record book consists of 600 pages of individual records. Each page records the name of the deceased, vital information such as birth date, place of birth, parents names, death date, place of death, residence, cause or manner of death, age, attending physician, marital status, place of funeral service, names of clergy officiating, the place of burial, and also includes a detailed accounting of fees charged.
Subjects
- St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Lorkovich, John
- Funeral service -- Catholic Church
- Croatia -- Emigration and immigration
- Funeral rites and ceremonies -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Funerals -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Death -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County -- Causes