June 9, 2022

Episode 87 - Paupers' Graves & Potter's Fields

Most cemeteries, both old and modern, contain a section often referred to as a Potter's field. In this episode, Dianne and Jennie discuss the history of Potter's fields and gravesites. From Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois to Hart Island in New York City, New York to quiet graves throughout England and Ireland, Many of these fields and gravesites have been forgotten with time as well as the poor souls buried within them. Dianne and Jennie try to remember the Ordinary Extraordinary people who are often ostracized in life and forgotten in death in this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast.

Show Notes

To listen to the Demolished Salt Lake podcast, follow this link: https://anchor.fm/demolishedsaltlakepodcast

Resources used to research this episode include:

McLeod, BA , Belinda. " What’s a Pauper’s Funeral? History & Why They Exist Today ." https://www.joincake.com/. 13 May 2022. www.joincake.com/blog/paupers-funeral/. Accessed 5 June 2022.

Quirk , Chicago. "Guess what? There are thousands of bodies under Lincoln Park. ." https://www.chicagonow.com/. 29 Oct. 2012. www.chicagonow.com/chicago-quirk/2012/10/guess-what-there-are-thousands-of-bodies-under-lincoln-park/ . Accessed 5 June 2022.

Willis , Graham Denyer. "The Potter's Field ." https://www.cambridge.org/. 27 June 2018. www.cambridge.org/core/journals/comparative-studies-in-society-and-history/article/potters-field/AE06740FC31E23B169CFC8B8659A73C2 . Accessed 5 June 2022.

Lolerzel, Robert. https://chicagoreader.com/. 15 May 2008. chicagoreader.com/news-politics/a-conservatory-a-zoo-and-12000-corpses/ . Accessed 5 June 2022.

"The History The Hart Island Project ." https://www.hartisland.net/. www.hartisland.net/history . Accessed 5 June 2022.

"Hansen’s disease (L eprosy)." https://www.cdc.gov/. www.cdc.gov/leprosy/index.html#:~:text=Hansen's%20disease%20 . Accessed 5 June 2022.

Evans, Lorraine . Burying the Dead: An Archaeological History of Burial Grounds, Graveyards and Cemeteries . E-book, Publisher‎Pen and Sword History, 2020.