Digging Up the Dead: A History of Notable American Reburials

 

Summary (from the publisher): With Digging Up the Dead, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Michael Kammen reveals a treasure trove of fascinating, surprising, and occasionally gruesome stories of exhumation and reburial throughout American history. Taking us to the contested grave sites of such figures as Sitting Bull, John Paul Jones, Frank Lloyd Wright, Daniel Boone, Jefferson Davis, and even Abraham Lincoln, Kammen explores how complicated interactions of regional pride, shifting reputations, and evolving burial practices led to public and often emotional battles over the final resting places of famous figures. Grave-robbing, skull-fondling, cases of mistaken identity, and the financial lures of cemetery tourism all come into play as Kammen delves deeply into this little-known—yet surprisingly persistent—aspect of American history.

Simultaneously insightful and interesting, masterly and macabre, Digging Up the Dead reminds us that the stories of American history don’t always end when the key players pass on. Rather, the battle—over reputations, interpretations, and, last but far from least, possession of the remains themselves—is often just beginning.

Review: This work of non-history reviews stories of exhumation and reburial of notable Americans throughout history. Covering individuals including Jefferson Davis, James Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Daniel Boone, Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Frank Lloyd Wright, and many others, this was an interesting overview of a clearly widespread practice of moving the dead to new locations after initial burial. While obviously a bit macabre, this book sheds light on a popular practice throughout history both in American and other countries and discusses its relevance and significance. 

"Historically considered, reburial has come to mean a figurative form of resurrection - primarily the ressurection of reputation, at least for a while. It has also meant, with the passage of time, renewed honor and frequently some form of reconciliation, or at least movement in the direction of reconciliation - familial, sectional, and above all national" (7). Kammen's history provides an interesting anthology of sorts on the practice of reburial, as well as an assessment of its significance and meaning in a primarily cultural and political sense. Almost without exception, the figures covered in this book are male and well known. Most held a larger role nationally or politically. Many of the reburials are instigated because of a sense of ownership where individuals are moved either to the place of birth origin or to a more prominent place considering more befitting and distinguished. Most, although certainly not all, reburials are conducted with respect and a religious service to accompany the act of reinternment. 

One of the wildest details I learned reading this book is how much the practice of burial has changed over time. "During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries only an estimated 5-7 percent of the dead escaped the fate of a common trench" (16). This is one of the many reasons why reburials in the past have largely affected well known and affluent individuals. This context and background helps inform the discussion of reburials that Kammen focuses on. And, while not alluded to in the summary, Kammen does spend some time talking about burials and reburials in history and outside of America, as they naturally influenced and informed practices in American history. 

In many ways, this book functions more as a collection of historical anecdotes rather than a cohesive history. A brief bio for most of the individuals discussed is given, followed by an overview of the circumstances surrounding their original death and resting place and then what led to their reburial. I think I was searching for a greater thesis or cohesion while reading this, but it truly is just an interesting collection of people, all joined by their common experience of having their bodies dug up and moved. I admire Kamman's research stamina. I imagine that the process of identifying reburials and sifting through to narrow down who to include was a time consuming and difficult process. 

Stars: 3.5