Episode 394 - An Ordinary Extraordinary Repatriation with Ryan Seidemann
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. This week, our favorite forensic anthropologist Ryan Seidemann joins us to discuss his Ordinary Extraordinary role in one of the first repatriations of its kind in the United States. In 1871-1872, nineteen men and women of African descent died at New Orleans' Charity Hospital. What happened next should never have happened. Their remains were removed and sent to Germany, where they became part...
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This week, our favorite forensic anthropologist Ryan Seidemann joins us to discuss his Ordinary Extraordinary role in one of the first repatriations of its kind in the United States.
In 1871-1872, nineteen men and women of African descent died at New Orleans' Charity Hospital. What happened next should never have happened. Their remains were removed and sent to Germany, where they became part of a collection built for racially biased phrenology research.
In 2023, Leipzig University contacted the City of New Orleans to initiate repatriation. On May 15, 2025, the ancestors were carefully packed and flown home, and on May 31, 2025, Dillard University, the City of New Orleans, and community partners held a memorial service and traditional jazz funeral to lay them to rest.
Join Jennie, Dianne and Ryan for this especially moving episode.
To see the full event "Honoring the Nineteen", click here: https://www.dillard.edu/about/history-traditions/honoring-the-nineteen/
Beyond the Grave 2026: Gothic Tragedies of the Gilded Age Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-presents-gothic-tragedies-of-the-gilded-age-tickets-1997269261125?aff=oddtdtcreator
Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun merch here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com
Family Tales: A free printable is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing
