100 Years Later: 1921 Graves Excavation At Tulsa Oaklawn Cemetery Begins On June 1

Press release from City of Tulsa:

May 23, 2021

On Tuesday June 1, the City of Tulsa will begin a full excavation and analysis of the Original 18 site at Oaklawn Cemetery, 1133 E. 11th St. led by the University of Oklahoma - Oklahoma Archaeological Survey (OAS) and the 1921 Graves Physical Investigation Committee.

Due to the size of the grave shaft and anticipated number of burials, experts expect the excavation could take weeks or even months depending on the needs in the field. Additionally, the City hired Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc. and Cardno, Inc. for this large-scale excavation.

Oaklawn Cemetery will serve as the temporary re-interment site and the Public Oversight Committee will make recommendations for a permanent burial and memorial location for 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims identified through this process.

On June 1, experts will start with mapping and site preparation and expect to begin excavations around 10 a.m. The excavation work will begin first with heavy machinery to remove the upper few feet of soil that lies over the burials. After the first day, experts intend to work at Oaklawn Cemetery Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The team of researchers and monitors from the Public Oversight Committee will be carefully observing the excavation process. There may also be some hand-excavation, use of metal detectors, and screening of excavated soil—depending on what is discovered during the first day. At the same time, other research team members will be working to set up on-site workstations for artifact processing and laboratory analyses.

Oaklawn Cemetery Signage/1921 Graves Investigation Video

New to Oaklawn Cemetery beginning Wednesday, visitors will be able to learn more about the investigation by viewing signage that will be located near the fence line at 11th St. and the Midland Valley Trail and along 11th St. and Peoria Ave. The interactive signage gives visitors an overview of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the 1921 Graves Investigation, which also includes audio translations in English, Spanish, Zomi and Burmese by scanning a QR code.

Another prominent feature on the sign includes a QR link to a video that was produced by the City of Tulsa, which provides an historical account of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and City of Tulsa 1921 Graves Investigation. The video features Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, Tulsa Council Chair and District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper, 1921 Graves Public Oversight Committee Chair and Descendant Kavin Ross and Greenwood Cultural Center Program Coordinator Mechelle Brown. Please view the video at:

Test Excavation Guidelines and Photography/Video

• Photography/video of human remains is strictly prohibited. To ensure no photographs or videos are taken of human remains, a screening fence will be placed around the excavation site.
• During the test excavation, Oaklawn Cemetery will be closed to the public. Oaklawn Cemetery will be open on Memorial Day.
• Two cultural monitors will be on site to view the excavation with the researchers.
• Parking will not be available at Oaklawn Cemetery. On-street parking should be utilized in the nearby residential neighborhood located across 11th St. from the cemetery on S. Norfolk Ave.
• Historians, including members on the Investigation’s Historical Context Committee, will be on site along with a videographer from the City of Tulsa to track progress and take pictures/video of the process.
• No helicopters, overhead cameras or drones will be allowed (except for the City’s videographer when human remains are not present).
• Photos, video, and drone footage from the City’s videographer will be uploaded to a public shared drive that anyone can download and use, which can be found at: www.cityoftulsa.org/1921graves.
• Individuals are asked to follow cemetery rules while viewing the investigatory work including: Avoiding playing loud music and keeping the volume of voices down. Children should be accompanied with an adult and pets must be leashed.

This press release was produced by the City of Tulsa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.