Austin to memorialize people discovered at Oakwood Chapel

In 2016, during the rehabilitation of the Oakwood Cemetery Chapel, archaeologists monitoring construction discovered the remains of men, women and children beneath the footprint of the chapel, which was originally constructed in 1914. Construction was halted and thus began the journey of confronting injustice and gaining insight into the lives of the people who were discovered.

After consulting with the community, 37 graves impacted by the chapel’s construction were excavated in 2017. While one gravesite held no remains, the other 36 burials were exhumed. Of those exhumed, there were 21 adults and 15 adolescents, children and infants.

Bio-archaeological analysis was completed in summer 2020. The team conducted a non-invasive analysis of the individuals, which provided some demographic data, including race and ethnicity, gender and approximate age. Of the individuals analyzed, the biological affinities of many could not be determined. Of the 20 adult individuals whose biological affinities could be determined, the findings demonstrate a likely diverse racial and ethnic representation including individuals of African, Latino, European and Asian descents. Starting in 1839, Oakwood Cemetery had segregated sections of burials based on race and ethnicity as well as socio-economic class. The section that includes the chapel was likely set aside for burials of people of color, out of town visitors and individuals who suffered from poverty.

In October 2020, the city of Austin hosted a two day symposium to interpret the report. The symposium, “All Together Here,” gathered nationally renowned archaeologists, anthropologists, historians and community activists to share their insight and envision further work for the city of Austin’s accountability for these people buried in the municipal cemetery.

With help from local and national experts, the Oakwood Chapel staff have since collaborated on digital history exhibits, genealogy research, 3D modeling through a National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Humanities Advancement Grant, and memorialization efforts.

In fall 2020, the Parks and Recreation Department of the city of Austin partnered with anthropological geneticists at the University of Connecticut’s Ancient DNA Lab to conduct DNA and isotopic analysis on the adult individuals whose bone density could be analyzed. The analysis offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the demographic identities, familial connections and life experiences of exhumed people. These studies are ongoing, and results are expected in 2024-2025.

In November 2021, the 36 men, women and children were reinterred with their burial artifacts along the west side of the Oakwood Cemetery Chapel, and a Blessing Event was held.

A monument was designed to mark the grave locations and to act as a unified memorial to the people buried within the Historic Colored Grounds. The monument was recently installed, and the public is invited to remember and honor these individuals and the impact they had on the founding of Austin.

The monument’s design was created by overlapping circles, a geometric design principle common to Gothic architecture. The front row of tablets bear rounded tops, while the back row is a line of Gothic arches. On the monument’s base, there are two sets of inscriptions. On the back of the base, there are 36 inscriptions that locate the specific burial of each person that was reinterred. Carved on the front of the base are the words of remembrance, "This monument marks the unknown journeys of individuals buried in the cemetery before the construction of the chapel."

Now, on May 19^th-21^st 2023, the city of Austin is hosting a three day memorial event that includes: guided tours of the Historic Colored Grounds and the Oakwood Chapel, a talk by a historian, a racial healing event, a dedication of the monuments, a walking procession, and a homegoing celebration.