Project Overview

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In 2018, the City of Tulsa started the process to reexamine the potential of graves from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre as identified in the 2001 State commissioned report. Four sites were identified in the City’s examination: Oaklawn Cemetery, Newblock Park, an additional area near Newblock Park, and Rolling Oaks Memorial Gardens, formerly Booker T. Washington Cemetery. 

Twenty-six death certificates were issued in 1921 for African American victims of the Massacre; 21 of those victims were reportedly buried in Oaklawn Cemetery. Newspaper reports from June 2, 1921 (Tulsa Tribune and Tulsa World) indicate that 18 adult male victims were buried in Oaklawn Cemetery Section 20. ​

• Latest Summary Report from Oaklawn Cemetery

1921 Graves Process Explained

• Historical Research 
  • Historical research and oral histories have helped experts determine the best locations to look in. Research has pointed to four areas in Tulsa, namely: Oaklawn Cemetery, Newblock Park, Canes area, and Rolling Oaks Cemetery. 
    
    
• Scanning
  • Using ground penetrating radar, archaeologists are able to see soil anomalies that point them toward certain burial features. Scanning results determine whether a site is recommended for coring work. 
  • Taken Place So Far At: Oaklawn Cemetery, Newblock Park, Canes area, Rolling Oaks Cemetery 
    
    
• Coring 
  • This drilling technique is used by archaeologists to recover evidence for past vegetation and land use. Coring work lets experts determine whether sites are candidates for a test excavation. 
  • Taken Place At: Oaklawn Cemetery 
  • Recommended At: Newblock Park, Canes area - Timeline TBD
     
• Test Excavation 
  • Test excavations are used to determine more about potential burials without substantially damaging or diminishing the integrity of the study area. Test excavations are used to determine whether an area is a candidate for a full excavation. 
  • Taken Place At: Oaklawn Cemetery
  • Recommended At: N/A 
    
    
• Full Excavation
  • Full excavations 
  • Taken Place At: Oaklawn Cemetery
  • Recommended At: N/A
     
• DNA Analysis 
  • Exhumed remains from full excavations have been sent to Intermountain Forensics, the laboratory assisting the City with DNA analysis for the project. DNA analysis will help experts find people alive today who may share DNA with burials as work continues to find answers from more than 100 years ago. To get involved with DNA work, visit tulsa1921dna.org.  

 About the University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information visit www.ou.edu.

About the Oklahoma Archeology Survey
The Oklahoma Archeological Survey is part of the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. It is dedicated to researching, preserving and educating the public about Oklahoma's archaeological heritage.