E. F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home, founded by Elmer Franklin Boyd (1878-1944) in 1905, is one of the oldest African American funeral homes in Cleveland, Ohio. Boyd learned the embalming trade at Clark's College of Embalming in Cincinnati and Meyer's Embalming School in Springfield. The business was initially located at 2604 East Central Avenue. The following year he took in a partner, Lewis J. Dean, but Dean left the business in 1911. The funeral home moved to 2276 E. 43rd in 1919, and to 2165 E. 89th St. in 1938. Elmer F. Boyd was also the founder of the Cleveland Funeral Directors Association, and was a leader in community affairs. Boyd's son, William F. Boyd (b.1915) joined the business in 1938, and that year the name of the funeral home changed to E. F Boyd & Son and the business moved to East 89th Street. After E. F. Boyd died in 1944, William F. Boyd headed the company, and subsequently expanded its operations. A branch location opened in 1972 at 15357 Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland. William F. Body headed the company until 1991, when his son William F. Boyd, II (b. 1941) took over, along with his siblings, the family business. A third funeral home located on 25900 Emery Rd., Warrensville Heights, opened in 1996. By 2004, this family-run business had nearly 30 full-time employees (including the fourth generation of Boyds) with its main branch remaining at the East 89th location. Many of the most prominent citizens, white and black, as well as an economic cross section of Cleveland's black community were buried by Boyd Funeral Home.
The E. F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home Records, Series II, 1919-1988, consist of correspondence, financial records, funeral books, and notes.
This collection is of value to researchers seeking materials related to the history and business activities of Boyd Funeral Home. Researchers wishing to chart the impact of disease, poverty, war, and health issues on the death rates of the African American community in Cleveland, Ohio will find this material of particular use. Researchers will also gain information regarding the range of occupations within the African American community. Genealogists will find information on family history, the listing of parents' names, and birth and death dates of the deceased useful. Of particular note are those well known persons buried by Boyd Funeral Home including: Reverend Wade Hampton McKinney (1892-1963), Judge Charles W. White ( 1897-1970), Jane Edna Hunter (1882-1971), Fleet O. Slaughter (1919-1974), Bertha Blue (1877-1963), Russell H. Davis (1897-1976), and Hazel M. Walker (1889-1980).
The collection is arranged in two series.
The researcher should also consult MS 3531 Boyd's Funeral Home Records; and t
Processed by Thelma Pierce and Nishani Frazier in 2004.
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4908 E. F. Boyd and Son Funeral Home Records, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of E. F. Boyd Funeral Home in 1999.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.