Roadside Memorial Powerpointv4

Roadside Memorials in the Community

A Scientific Study of Roadside Memorials

Art Jipson, PhD. University of Dayton, CJS Program

InterestInterest Driving to work I noticed roadside Driving to work I noticed roadside

memorials along my commute from memorials along my commute from Oxford to DaytonOxford to Dayton

I became interested in I became interested in

the symbolic, emotional, social, and the symbolic, emotional, social, and criminological components to these criminological components to these memorialsmemorials

Figuring out Roadside MemorialsFiguring out Roadside Memorials The project has focused on ascertaining the reasons that The project has focused on ascertaining the reasons that

led some people to erect a commemoration to a loved one led some people to erect a commemoration to a loved one or a friend who died as a result of an automobile accident. or a friend who died as a result of an automobile accident.

The research has taken multiple tracks: The research has taken multiple tracks:

(1) Interviewing erectors of memorials,(1) Interviewing erectors of memorials,(2) individuals who are connected to the memorials,(2) individuals who are connected to the memorials,(3) content analysis of written material on roadside and (3) content analysis of written material on roadside and other memorials,other memorials,(4) and collection and analysis of data on the laws in the (4) and collection and analysis of data on the laws in the fifty states.fifty states.

Interview DataInterview DataI have interviewed 309 individuals involved in 127 MemorialsI have interviewed 309 individuals involved in 127 Memorials(not all are listed below due to confidentiality requirements)(not all are listed below due to confidentiality requirements)

Midwest:Midwest:

Ohio (78)Ohio (78) Kentucky (45)Kentucky (45) West Virginia (15)West Virginia (15) Pennsylvania (14) Pennsylvania (14) Illinois (13)Illinois (13) Indiana (16)Indiana (16) Minnesota (3)Minnesota (3) Iowa (2)Iowa (2)

South:South:

North Carolina (24)North Carolina (24) South Carolina (15)South Carolina (15) Georgia (21)Georgia (21) Tennessee (16)Tennessee (16) Arkansas (2)Arkansas (2)

East:East:

Massachusetts (8)Massachusetts (8) Delaware (5)Delaware (5) Massachusetts (7)Massachusetts (7)

Demographics of ErectorsDemographics of Erectors

RaceRace 70% white, 20% African-American, 10% 70% white, 20% African-American, 10% Hispanic or Mexican-AmericanHispanic or Mexican-American

KinshipKinship 95% family members, 5% friends or 95% family members, 5% friends or othersothers

GenderGender 80% erected by women80% erected by women

ClassClass 70% of erectors earn less than $120,000 70% of erectors earn less than $120,000 annuallyannually

Content AnalysisContent Analysis I have also conducted content analysis on I have also conducted content analysis on 137137

newspaper and print articles, television and radio newspaper and print articles, television and radio programs, and letters to the editors written on roadside programs, and letters to the editors written on roadside memorials. memorials.

This analysis has helped This analysis has helped contextualizecontextualize roadside roadside memorials in the local and national consciousness. memorials in the local and national consciousness.

In addition, I have also reviewed the In addition, I have also reviewed the scholarly literaturescholarly literature in literature, criminology, popular culture, cultural in literature, criminology, popular culture, cultural geography, and sociology on roadside memorials and geography, and sociology on roadside memorials and other forms of spontaneous public commemoration. other forms of spontaneous public commemoration.

Little written on Roadside Little written on Roadside MemorialsMemorials

Little scholarly workLittle scholarly work has focused on has focused on roadside memorials.roadside memorials.

Instead research has focused on well-Instead research has focused on well-known large projects such as sanctioned known large projects such as sanctioned historical markers or approved grieving historical markers or approved grieving spaces (such as national cemeteries)spaces (such as national cemeteries)

Why erect a Roadside Why erect a Roadside Memorial?Memorial?

GriefGrief Private MarkerPrivate Marker Public ServicePublic Service

Public MarkerPublic Marker Warning about dangerWarning about danger Slow DownSlow Down

Other MarkersOther Markers In all of my interviews, the roadside memorial In all of my interviews, the roadside memorial

is an addition to a conventional gravestone.is an addition to a conventional gravestone.

It does not replace a gravestone in a It does not replace a gravestone in a cemeterycemetery

The Memorial is PowerfulThe Memorial is Powerful

For every single person involved in For every single person involved in erecting a memorial that I have erecting a memorial that I have interviewed, all of them stated that the interviewed, all of them stated that the roadside memorial was more meaningful roadside memorial was more meaningful to them than a gravestone in a cemetery.to them than a gravestone in a cemetery.

Massachusetts MemorialMassachusetts Memorial

Owensboro, KY MemorialOwensboro, KY Memorial

SR 127 OhioSR 127 Ohio

SR 127 OhioSR 127 Ohio

Massachusetts Memorial 2Massachusetts Memorial 2

Massachusetts Memorial 3Massachusetts Memorial 3

MA Memorial 3, note the car partMA Memorial 3, note the car part

MA Memorial 3, note the objectsMA Memorial 3, note the objects

MA Memorial 3, long shotMA Memorial 3, long shot

Massachusetts Memorial 6Massachusetts Memorial 6

A memorial near the Dayton MallA memorial near the Dayton MallIt is important to note that as is demonstrated in the pictures that follow that some memorials can be quite elaborate in a variety of ways.

A Roadside Memorial from A Roadside Memorial from Hamilton, OhioHamilton, Ohio

A memorial near downtown A memorial near downtown Hamilton, OhioHamilton, Ohio

Even small memorials demonstrate attention to detail and obvious care.

A Memorial on Ohio SR 127/73A Memorial on Ohio SR 127/73

Common ThemesCommon Themes

Organization (mostly crosses)Organization (mostly crosses) NamesNames DatesDates Flowers (plastic and real)Flowers (plastic and real) Personal notes, mementos, Personal notes, mementos,

picturespictures Personal items of the deceasedPersonal items of the deceased

Roadside Memorials and the LawRoadside Memorials and the Law

Finally, in order to understand the Finally, in order to understand the influence of roadside memorials, I have influence of roadside memorials, I have begun to survey all 50 state Attorneys begun to survey all 50 state Attorneys General and transportation departments General and transportation departments on each state’s laws that pertain to on each state’s laws that pertain to roadside memorials. roadside memorials.

Different States have different LawsDifferent States have different Laws

State and local governments have responded State and local governments have responded differently to roadside memorials. differently to roadside memorials.

West Virginia, for example has explicit legislation West Virginia, for example has explicit legislation meant to regulate the size and placement of meant to regulate the size and placement of these memorials in its borders. these memorials in its borders.

Other states, such as Ohio, view roadside Other states, such as Ohio, view roadside memorials as a hindrance to travel and therefore memorials as a hindrance to travel and therefore consider them illegal. consider them illegal.

Variability of State LawsVariability of State Laws

Not all states have legislation that directly Not all states have legislation that directly applies to roadside memorials. applies to roadside memorials.

More frequently, state law avoids direct More frequently, state law avoids direct comment on roadside memorials and only comment on roadside memorials and only intervenes if the memorial becomes an intervenes if the memorial becomes an obstruction to traffic. obstruction to traffic.

Recent legislation: Indiana, AlaskaRecent legislation: Indiana, Alaska

RemovalRemoval

As I began interviewing individuals and As I began interviewing individuals and family members who erected roadside family members who erected roadside memorials it became increasingly memorials it became increasingly apparent that county and local law apparent that county and local law enforcement are often unwilling to enforcement are often unwilling to remove a memorial – remove a memorial –

Law Enforcement and RemovalLaw Enforcement and Removal

Removal happens infrequently even if there is Removal happens infrequently even if there is some vocal opposition in the community and some vocal opposition in the community and even in some circumstance where some in a even in some circumstance where some in a community consider it a distraction (and a community consider it a distraction (and a distracting commemoration would be illegal in all distracting commemoration would be illegal in all states)states)

Law enforcement does not want to appear to be Law enforcement does not want to appear to be insensitive to the feelings of the bereaved. insensitive to the feelings of the bereaved.

Thanks for Listening…Thanks for Listening… Any questions?Any questions?

Please feel free to write to me Please feel free to write to me about Roadside Memorials @about Roadside Memorials @

Art JipsonArt JipsonCriminal Justice Studies programCriminal Justice Studies programUniversity of DaytonUniversity of Dayton300 College Park300 College ParkDayton, Ohio 45469Dayton, Ohio 45469

on Twitter @ artjipsonon Twitter @ artjipson Or call 937-229-2153Or call 937-229-2153 or email me @ or email me @

((jipsonaj@udayton.edujipsonaj@udayton.edu))