Condolence book

book in which people may record their condolences after a death or great tragedy

A condolence book or book of condolence is a book in which people may write their condolences after a death or great tragedy.

A condolence book for Margaret Thatcher, signed by visiting G8 Foreign Ministers

After the death of a leading figure or great disaster, condolence books are put in public places for members of the general public to use. When closed, the books are given to the relatives.[1]

After especially notable deaths, official records of the condolences may be reprinted. For example, after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the Government Printing Office published a leather-bound, gilt-edged collection of official condolences in 1867.[2]

References

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  1. John Shep Jeffreys (2004), Helping grieving people when tears are not enough: a handbook for care providers, ISBN 978-0203487914
  2. Carolyn Lawton Harrell (1997), When the bells tolled for Lincoln: Southern reaction to the assassination, ISBN 9780865545878