History – Pathological Bodies Project

The Death of Jayne Mansfield: Postmortem Bodily Integrity and Legacy.

Jayne Mansfield – the blonde bombshell often seen as Marilyn Monroe’s successor. Associated with the iconic photo of Sophia Loren gazing across at her very low-cut dress, famous for living in her ‘pink palace’, and for her appearance in old Hollywood movies. Like Marilyn, Jayne has often been just associated with her body and blonde hair. Also- like Marilyn- Jayne died in her thirties in tragic circumstances, although in a very different manner to Marilyn. But who exactly was Jayne Mansfield? How was she treated in death, and what is her legacy today? This blog post will continue my series in exploring how celebrities were treated in death and the consideration of postmortem bodily integrity.

Who was Jayne Mansfield?

Born Vera Jayne Palmer in Pennsylvania in 1933, Manfield shot to fame in the 1950s. As a child, she was inspired by Shirley Temple and wanted to be a star just like her (insert iconic ‘I’m a STAR!!’ quote from Pearl here). In 1950, she married her first husband Paul Mansfield before studying acting at UCLA and later at the University of Texas. Jayne also took up modelling – a real all-rounder. In fact, her breasts were commented upon as being ‘undesirable’ by some commercial advertisers, concerned about her sexuality. However, she became a centrefold for Playboy in 1955, boosting her public appeal and notoriety, and cementing her sex symbol status.

The hilarious side eye picture of Sophia Loren looking at Jayne Mansfield’s cleavage: Photo Source The Telegraph

Eventually, Jayne was signed by Warner Brothers, taking on some minor roles. She also began a stint on Broadway before being signed by 20^th Century Fox in 1956. Marilyn Monroe was the ‘resident bombshell’ at the time but left due to a continued straining relationship with the studio. Jayne was launched as their new sex symbol, referred to as the ‘king-size Marilyn’ or the ‘Working man’s Monroe.’ In fact, the two women were often pitted against each other as well as being compared to each other in appearance. Marilyn is believed to have said she was flattered to be ‘imitated’ by Jayne, but that it was an insult to Monroe and Mansfield alike. Jayne was rumoured to have hooked up with JFK, delighted at how missed Marilyn would be if the news got out – talk about a rivalry. Chillingly however, when Jayne heard of Marilyn’s untimely death she apparently said, ‘maybe I’ll be next’……

She starred in movies such as The Girl Can’t Help It, The Wayward Bus, Too Hot to Handle, and Promises! Promises! On the set of the latter movie, nude photos were snapped of Mansfield that were published in Playboy, leading to an obscenity charge being brought against Hugh Hefner. This incident is similar to Hefner’s actions against Marilyn, using her photos without her permission in the first series of Playboy. He now resides next to her in West wood Village Memorial Park – I’m sure she would have preferred different company. Jayne’s body was commented upon sexually but was also commented upon due to her numerous pregnancies that the studio deemed as affecting her contract. Jayne eventually became the mother to 5 children, including famous contemporary actress Mariska Hargitay of Law-and-Order SVU fame. Jayne was eventually married three times.

What happened to Jayne?

Jayne’s film career began to decline in the 1960s, and it was in 1967 that she died in an accident on the way to New Orleans, Louisianna after making a nightclub appearance nearby. She was only 34 years old. At 2am on the 29^th of June, Mansfield was travelling in a car that was also carrying her boyfriend Samuel Brody and her driver Robert Harrison – all three were in the front seat. Three of her children were in the backseat fast asleep. A nearby machine was pumping fog to kill mosquitos, obscuring the view of the driver. Their car (a 1966 Buick Electra) crashed into the back of a truck, sliding under the back of the trailer, resulting in the top of the car coming off. The three adults in the front along with Jayne’s dog were killed. Miraculously, her three children in the back survived the impact – including Mariska. A federal law arose from the accident, with the National Traffic Safety Administration ordered trailers to have a steel bar to stop cars rolling underneath – known as ‘Mansfield bars.’ These bars are the red and white strip you can see at the bottom half of vehicles, installed to prevent ‘underriding’ of a larger truck. It was later determined that Harrison and the man pumping the fog were somewhat negligent in relation to the incident, with the truck driver cleared of liability.

The aftermath of the accident

Unsurprisingly, the rumour mill went into overdrive after the accident. Jayne’s wig was thrown from the car, adding to the rumour that she had been decapitated after pictures of the scene were published. Jayne died instantly, with the death cert stating she suffered from a partial crushed skull and some cranium separation. She wasn’t beheaded but did suffer a partial scalping injury. The funeral director who cared for Jayne after the accident spoke to the New York Times in 1997 to put an end to rumours she was decapitated. A book by Kenneth Anger was released in 1975 perpetuated the beheading rumour when he published a picture from the crash which showed human hair on the side of the road after the fatal crash. The crash also featured in the 1996 movie Crash in which a character tries to recreate the accident whilst dressed as Mansfield – another sexually fuelled project associated with Mansfield. There was also a rumour that her death was due to her association with Anton LaVey – a major figure in the Church of Satan, and that LaVey had put a curse on them as her boyfriend had been jealous of the relationship.

The wrecked car was acquired by a private collector, turning it into a roadside attraction for tourists in the 1970s. It now resides at the Dearly Departed Tours and Artifact Museum in LA. However, since the Covid pandemic it has since gone into storage, where I hope it stays….

Jayne’s private funeral took place on July 3^rd in Pennsylvania. After the chapel service she was buried next to her father in Fairview Cemetery. A cenotaph in her honour was also erected in Hollywood Forever Cemetery……with the wrong birth date written on the stone. The stone reads, ‘We live to love you more each day’.

Centoph at Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Photo Source Find a Grave

The Legacy of Jayne Mansfield

Although Jayne’s death was completely unavoidable, the incident led to a rethinking of road safety measures and has likely saved countless lives. Mariska spoke of her mother’s legacy, stating that although she was an iconic sex symbol, she also had an IQ over 160, spoke multiple languages, played the violin and was a wonderful mother. Jayne has made an impact on popular culture, featuring in songs, movies etc. and she has gone down in history as one of Hollywood’s most iconic blondes along with Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, and Veronica Lake. Not a ‘dumb blonde’ after all.

Jayne Mansfield: Photo Source The Advocate

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayne_Mansfield

https://allthatsinteresting.com/jayne-mansfield-death

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actress-jayne-mansfield-dies-in-car-crash

https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/jayne-mansfield-death.htm

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/jayne-mansfields-death-horror-car-22276873

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2028/jayne-mansfield

The Post-mortem Bodily Intergrity of Amy Winehouse

What do we think of when we think of Amy Winehouse? We often think of the tall beehive worn in her hair, the winged eyeliner, the skin adorned in tattoos, and of course, her amazing voice immortalised on her iconic Back to Black album. Unfortunately, Amy has also been associated with the drugs and alcohol that ultimately killed her, with videos of her performing drunk shortly before her death found on the internet. Amy died in July 2011 at the age of 27, cementing her forever as a member of the 27 club – an infamous list of celebrities who died at age 27 that also includes Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, and Kurt Cobain.

But who exactly was Amy Winehouse? What happened to her, and how was she treated in death? With the upcoming controversial Back to Black biopic due to be released in May 2024, these are questions we are asking more and more.

Amy was born in London in 1983 and grew up in a Jewish family. Her father, Mitch, played the music of Frank Sinatra for her growing up. His music, along with the professional jazz singers in her family, inspired Amy to pursue a career in singing. From a young age, her talent was evident, with her drama teacher spotting her star quality. Amy got a guitar at 14, began writing songs, and attended theatre school. She sang with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra before being signed with a management agency in 2002. Performing in jazz clubs, she eventually released her debut album, Frank – named after her idol Frank Sinatra, in 2003. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim.

Amy spent time in the local pubs around Camden, London – it was here she met her future husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, who introduced her to the world of hard drugs – including heroin. Heartbreakingly, Amy was always anti class-A drugs until she met Fielder-Civil, stating that she thought it was foolish for artists to dabble in such things. Her fame grew astronomically when she released her 2006 album Back to Black, with hit singles such as ‘Rehab’ and ‘Back to Black’ as well as her rendition of ‘Valerie’ on the track list. ‘Rehab’ chronicled the singers’ reluctance to enter rehab for addiction after her family pleaded with her to check in.

The media constantly reported on the singer’s drug use, often cruelly referring to her as ‘Amy Wino’ (particularly in articles from TMZ). Images of Amy were printed in various stages of intoxication and in states of distress – including infamous pictures of her with bruising and cuts thought to be from an altercation with her husband, and a series of images of her with bloody feet which were wrongly attributed to her injecting heroin between her toes. After a video of Amy smoking crack cocaine was leaked online, she eventually checked into rehab. In 2009, Amy was sick of being hounded by the press, winning a court order banning the paparazzi from following her outside her home. One headline stated ‘They know that she’s no good…’ after she was booed offstage in Serbia as she was struggling from alcohol consumption. Shockingly, one website set up in 2007 asked people to predict when she would die – the winner won a new iPod Touch. In fact, almost 100,000 people made their predictions as to when she would die – her life was considered only as important as similarly betting on a horse race. The website debacle highlights how often celebrities are dehumanised, with Amy and her wellbeing reduced to being a source of entertainment.

Amy was found dead at her flat in Camden, London, on July 23^rd, 2011. After her death was announced, fans flocked to her house to a set up a memorial, with many leaving letters, cards, and flowers. The makeshift memorial also featured drinks, cigarettes etc. left in her memory. At the time of her death, it was reported the singer was no longer taking drugs, but was still suffering from alcohol addiction. She would go weeks without having a drink and then would go on a binge. On the day she died, she was found on her bed with an empty bottle of vodka at her side. Many reports jumped to the conclusion she had died of a drug overdose, with some speculation of suicide. An inquest revealed that she died of accidental drug poisoning, as the levels in her system affected her respiratory system whilst she was comatose. Another inquest was undertaken in 2013 as it was revealed the coroner did not have the correct qualifications for the role – however, the same findings were reported. Upon her death, as so often happens with celebrity deaths, paparazzi took photographs of her body being removed from the house by the undertakers.

Her funeral took place at Edgewarebury cemetery in London, before she was moved to Golders Green crematorium. After the ceremony, her family headed to Shindler’s hall to begin the Jewish mourning period of shiva. Shiva – which comes from the word sheva, meaning seven – is a mourning period of seven days in which the family of the deceased can begin to heal emotionally and spiritually. Shiva is often held in the home of the person who has died, as it is thought their spirit will often dwell there. A memorial candle is usually lit and burns for the full seven days. Amy’s ashes were buried with her grandmother Cynthia – the black headstone adorned with pink writing as well as a songbird.

Around 3 months after her death, Neil Patrick Harris held a Halloween party, showcasing a cake made to represent the body of Amy. The graphic cake shows a likeness of Amy in the early stages of decomposition, her mouth opened wide and gaping, with ‘the corpse of Amy Winehouse’ written beside it. I’m not going to share that image here as I feel to do so wouldn’t be right. However, that didn’t stop guests from sharing a picture of the cake on twitter stating, ‘look who came to the party’. How far is too far? Even now the image of the cake reappears online, with many criticising Harris for doing such a thing.

The award-winning documentary, Amy, was released in 2015, chronicling the singer’s life and her struggles with addiction, depression, and bulimia. The documentary was met with critical acclaim, but her father – Mitch – criticised the film, as he was depicted in a negative light. It is untrue as to how much her father influenced her career decisions – there has been accusations that she was never truly offered the help she needed and that her career was seen as an important means of income, meaning her wellbeing was seen as secondary. Whether this is true or not is hard to say, but even some years after her death her life was still in the spotlight.

Last year, I had the opportunity to go see the Beyond Black exhibit at Newbridge Silverware in Kildare, Ireland (which also featured in the Grammy Museum). The exhibit featured dresses, underwear, and makeup that were used and designed for the singer for her tour. Some of the clothes exhibited were made for the tour she never got to do – the retro style dresses a stark reminder of a life cut short. I am a huge Amy fan myself and was interested in seeing the collection. However, I couldn’t help but feel slightly uncomfortable at gazing upon her displayed underwear, it felt quite intimate, but nevertheless the exhibit did an excellent job at showcasing her impact on fashion and style.

A bronze statue has been erected in her honour in Camden, London. The likeness of the singer was revealed in 2014, placed at Stables market with a real red rose in her hair. Amy is depicted in her signature dress with her beehive hairstyle. Today, the statue is visited by many tourists and is an integral part of Camden town.

With the recent announcement of the Back to Black movie – based on the life of Amy Winehouse – her life and death is now back in the headlines. The movie has been met with criticism, as happens often with celebrity biopics. The timing of the movie, the casting of Marisa Abela as Amy, and the heavy involvement of her father in the film has all been met with criticism and scepticism. Many think that Amy should rest in peace for now, and that perhaps a biopic of her life would be better considered with the passage of more time, as has been done with the likes of Elvis. It will be interesting to see how she is depicted now that she is not here, and how her death will be dealt with in the movie.

Amy would have turned 40 in 2023. To mark the occasion, fans and friends alike raised a glass in celebration of the singer. Her mother, Janis, and fans visited her grave – still adored by devout fans. Amy was a multidimensional woman, who was often reduced to her struggles. She was often the butt of many a joke when she was alive and has still been ridiculed after her death. I recently listened to a podcast where one of the presenters referred to her as ‘just a junkie who died.’ To reduce her to that is unsettling and distasteful to me – Amy may have been an addict, but there was no denying her talent and influence she had on the music industry. Her mortality was seen as something that could be bet on; it was almost as if everybody around her was watching her self-destruct. No body was stepping in to help her, but the paparazzi were sure to get that compromising picture that could be plastered all over the tabloids. I can only hope that she is treated with the respect she deserves in the upcoming movie – but I won’t hold my breath.

Sources

The Dead of the Titanic: The Mackay Bennett, Embalming, and Burial

Today marks 111 years since the sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic on her maiden voyage. The luxury liner left Southampton on the 10th of April 1912 before picking up additional passengers in Cherbourg and Queenstown (now modern-day Cobh). You can visit the Titanic centre in Cobh today, well worth a visit if you are ever in County Cork – a lesser-known centre then the Titanic Experience in Belfast, the city where White Star Line produced the vessel.

With the anniversary of the disaster, I wanted to write this blog post on the aftermath of the sinking, drawing attention to the recovery of the dead and where many were put to rest. The lesser-known vessel, The Mackay Bennett, was instrumental in recovery of bodies for loved ones.

It took the ship over 2 and a half hours to sink, finally submerging in the early hours of the morning of the 15^th of April. About 1500 people are thought to have died as a result of the sinking.

The Mackay Bennett

The Mackay Bennett was a cable ship built in the 1880s. The iron ship was chartered by White Star Line once the news of the sinking had broken. The crew opted to stay on board the ship, despite being told they were under no obligation to carry out the task of recovering bodies. The ship went to the Titanic’s last known location from the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, equipped with ice (100 tonnes), coffins 100 wooden), and undertakers who worked for John Snow and Co. Once the crew arrived at the sinking site, they were greeted with a harrowing site. Many of the dead were mutilated, and the Mackay Bennett called to warn other ships to avoid the area. The ship arrived to begin recovery on the 19^th of April.

Recovery and Care of the Dead

Captain Larnder of the Mackay Bennett stated that far more bodies then expected were seen in the sea upon arriving, with boats manned by 5 or 6 crew members launched for recovery with room for 8 bodies per small boat. Over 50 bodies were recovered on the first day, fewer were recovered on the second day and 119 were recovered on the third day. Embalming fluid was also brought on the ship so chief embalmer – John R. Snow Jr. – could care for the dead. Once a body was brought aboard, it was given a number that matched a bag with their personal items. Physical characteristics, identifying features and clothing were also noted. Once all the coffins were filled and embalming fluid ran out, the bodies were wrapped in a canvas and placed on ice in the hold. Only embalmed bodies could be brought ashore, so the difficult decision was made to bury some of the bodies at sea – they were weighed down with iron bars and dropped overboard as a minister delivered a service. It was noted that the many of the bodies buried at sea were identified from their clothing as third-class passengers or crew members, with some scholars stating that the bodies ‘worth less’ were returned to the water. Many of the wealthier passengers were chosen for preservation rather than a sea burial as so insurance policies could be paid. Another ship, the Minia, eventually arrived on scene with more embalming fluid so the process of preservation could begin again. 306 bodies were recovered by the Mackay Bennett after 7 days of searching, with 116 buried at sea. The remaining victims were brought back to Halifax. 3 additional ships recovered a further 22 bodies over the following month. It is estimated that around 23% of the dead were recovered.

https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~capstick/titanic.html

Reaching the Shore

A temporary morgue was set up at the Halifax curling rink. The same rink was used as a temporary morgue 5 years later when a moored ammunition ship exploded and killed around 2000 people in Halifax. The ship arrived back on the 30^th of April to tolling bells and family members looking for their loved ones. Black draped hearses were set up along the dock to retrieve the bodies from the recovery vessel. Around 200 bodies were brought ashore (sources differ on exact numbers), with an area set up for identification in the temporary morgue. To assist with grieving relatives, a nurse was on hand to comfort loved ones. One undertaker collapsed from shock when he unexpectedly came across the body of his uncle amongst the victims.

https://funeraldirectordaily.com/the-story-of-the-cs-mackay-bennett-the-titanic-morgue-ship/

Around 150 people recovered from the Titanic were buried in Halifax, Nova Scotia – over 50 victims were claimed by relatives and shipped elsewhere for internment. 3 cemeteries are the final resting place for victims in Halifax – Fairview Lawn, Mount Olivet, and Baron de Hirsch. These 3 cemeteries are non-denominational (FL), Catholic (MO) and Jewish (BH). An unidentified baby recovered from the water was exhumed and DNA tested in 2007 – the 19-month-old was finally identified as Sidney Godwin. His whole family perished in the disaster – they were third class passengers.

Eventually the Mackay Bennett resumed its duties as a cable carrier – retiring in 1922. The ship now lives on in the history books at the mortuary vessel for the victims of the Titanic.

Sources

Recovering the Titanic’s Dead: the Mackay-Bennett

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/602405/mackay-bennett-titanic-mortuary-ship

https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-bodies-mackay-bennett/?utm_content=cmp-true

Bodies of the Titanic: Found and Lost Again

https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~capstick/titanic.html

Recovering Titanic Bodies: The Grim Task of the Mackay-Bennett

Titanic Body Recovery

https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~capstick/titanic.html

The post-mortem fate of Elvis Presley: Another case study in bodily integrity

A while ago I did a blog post on the post-mortem fate of Marilyn Monroe, which has generated a lot of interest on my blog. Celebrities – dead or alive – have a power over us. Decades after their death they still pique our interest. Marilyn has become a hot topic once again recently in the news, with Kim Kardashian damaging her dress at the Met Gala, the release of a new Netflix documentary about her death, and with a new movie about her called Blonde set to be released soon. There has been some outcry online to ‘let her rest’ and to stop speculating in aspects of her life and death. I doubt very much that this will be the case. In fact, those posting about letting Marilyn rest are doing the exact opposite of what they are preaching. She is clickbait for many, which brings up many aspects of post-mortem bodily integrity. With the recent release of Baz Luhrmann’s new Elvis movie, I thought looking at the post-mortem bodily integrity of Elvis Presley was important. Like Marilyn, Elvis is considered one of the greatest icons of the 20th century. So how was Elvis’s body treated upon his death? First, a little bit about ‘The King’.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE

Who was Elvis Presley?
Elvis Aron Presley was born in Mississippi in 1935. He began his rock and roll career in 1954 in Memphis Tennessee. Despite the flamboyant costumes and the lavish surroundings Elvis became known for, he started off very poor. His musical style was inspired by blues, country, and gospel. Throughout the 1950’s his rockabilly style dominated the charts for the first time – paving the way for other rock musicians. Presley, with his slicked back black hair and thrusting dance moves, became a sex symbol. His good looks and talent meant he also became a movie star and appeared on numerous television specials. His career continued to be successful into the 1960’s, and in 1967 he married his long-time girlfriend, Pricilla. Shortly after, they had a baby girl called Lisa Marie. The two eventually divorced in 1973 but remained good friends. In the 70’s he continued to tour but his lifestyle was catching up with him. He took prescription drugs, ate fatty foods, and had a terrible sleeping pattern – it was even reported he reached 350 pounds in weight. Even at the height of his career he always lacked confidence in himself and feared slipping back into the poverty he experienced in childhood.

https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1324081/Elvis-Presley-death-funeral-coffin-Graceland-Vernon-Lisa-Marie-How-did-Elvis-die

How did Elvis Presley die?
Elvis was found dead at his home in Graceland in 1977 at 42 years old. Like most significant cultural icons from the 20th century, his death has been met with speculation and controversy. There have been derogatory jibes made about the position he was found in (i.e., the King died on the Throne) – he was found in the bathroom, likely having died on the toilet before falling to the ground. The fact he was found with his pants down in such a vulnerable position, questions how much information should be released to the public. Is letting the public know he died on the toilet a violation or post – mortem humiliation? Ginger Alden wrote in her memoir about the position in which she found her then boyfriend, as well as how he physically looked upon his death.
Elvis was known to have had a horrific drug problem in the years leading up to his death. He also was reported to have needed a full-time nurse to help him in the months leading up to his death, and that his awful diet even consisted of cheeseburger platters. I recently read Mary Roach’s excellent book Gulp in which she talks about Elvis and his diagnosis of megacolon. He had suffered from chronic constipation due to his diet, colon condition and drug use – it is thought he died from a heart attack brought on by Valsalva manoeuvre. It has also been suggested that he died from a drug overdose that caused his heart to stop. There has also been a theory that he died from a heart attack brought on by an autoimmune condition caused by a brain injury from a fall in 1967. Whatever the case, it is clear his heart stopped very quickly.

What happened to Elvis’s body? Elvis was brought for an autopsy to establish a cause of death at Baptist Memorial Hospital – however, the results of the autopsy have been sealed from the public record until 2027 (50 years after his death). Elvis was embalmed after he was brought to Memphis Funeral Home – he was dressed in one of his famous suits and his hair/ sideburns were dyed to hide his greying hair. He was then transported to Graceland for a public viewing under the direction of his father, Vernon Presley. Vernon was also the person who ordered the results of his autopsy to be sealed, causing much public speculation and even rumours about Presley faking his death. The death of such a well – known celebrity has often come with rumours of the death being a hoax. It’s a question of whether these rumours are generated from the public in denial of the death, from ‘genuine sightings’, or from those who wish to keep their memory alive. There were rumours that the body on display at Graceland was actually a wax dummy that appeared to have ‘beads of sweat’ from melting slightly. His dead body was scrutinised by thousands of people, even though the opened end of the casket was placed slightly out of sight of fans.

https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1513683/Elvis-Presley-funeral-hearse-burial-Mindi-Miller

Over 30,000 fans were let into the foyer of Graceland to view the open casket before a scaled back funeral service was held at the estate. There were reports that some of fans fainted upon seeing the casket. Friends and Co-stars of Presley were present at the small ceremony before 80,000 fans followed the funeral procession to the burial at Forest Hill Cemetery. He was buried next to his mother, Gladys. A BBC presenter discussed the interaction he had with the family upon viewing the body of the star. Michael Cole was one of the first to view the body and in a Daily Mail article he commented that the head (of a deceased Elvis) was the size of a ‘watermelon’ and he was ‘deathly pale’. He goes on to say he speculated the bloating of the body was from drug use and that the hairstyle that had been done by the hairdresser at the funeral home ‘upset’ him. Like Marilyn, we see that even in death, the appearance of public figures is (and was) commented on. Even the dead are not ‘off limits’ and expected to look their best.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-flowers-at-elvis-presley-funeral-18th-august-1977-memphis-tennessee-56609348.html?imageid=9B3AADA8-38E4-4981-8E84-58B50449F7A6&p=180027&pn=1&searchId=941edbc73015363f1be66d4d1ce0d491&searchtype=0

Unfortunately, there was an attempt made to steal the remains of Presley and his mother in the same year as his death. Nine days after the burial, Raymond Green, Eugene Nelson, and Ronnie Adkins attempted to steal the corpse with the intention of holding it for ransom. It was reported they had explosives with them to blow open the mausoleum, and the heavy, copper casket. The casket had been so heavy in fact that eight pallbearers were needed. There has been accusations made against the Presley family themselves, suggesting they were part of the plot to indicate that Elvis should be buried elsewhere – i.e., at Graceland. Initially, burial of Elvis at Graceland was not permitted by the Memphis board. If the body was elsewhere and required security, then surely it would make sense for him to be buried at Graceland where it could be safe? Specifically, his father Vernon – the same man who allowed for public viewing of the casket – has been most associated with the plot. Even more disturbingly, it was suggested that Vernon wanted his son moved to Graceland to generate more income from fans and tourists visiting the estate. If that is true, then even the remains of the King were being seen as something to generate wealth. Some speculate that none of the Presley family are actually buried at Graceland and that their bodies are elsewhere for family members to visit them privately.

In 2010 the Chicago Tribune reported that the embalming tools used on Elvis were being put up for auction by the embalmer who looked after his body. One cannot deny how much of a violation of trust this is. Those working in the death care industry have a responsibility to respect the dead and their families. The ‘John Doe’ tag, rubber gloves, forceps, lip brushes, a comb and eyeliner, needle injectors and aneurysm hooks all allegedly used at the funeral home were up for auction. The lot was eventually withdrawn, not because it was disrespectful to the memory of Presley, but because the authenticity of the tools was brought into question.

Elvis can be considered one of the greatest icons of the 20^th century, and continues to generate wealth, conversation and an extraordinary fanbase. It is sad to think that one of the greatest musicians and sex symbols of the 20^th century met such an untimely end. His headstone now reads ‘Elvis Aaron Presley’ – Aron is spelled incorrectly, a heart-breaking realisation when you understand that one of his greatest fears was to be forgotten.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/elvis-presley-funeral.html

Sources

Roach, M., 2013. Gulp: Adventures on the alimentary canal. WW Norton & Company.

https://www.liveabout.com/details-of-elvis-presleys-funeral-2522426#:~:text=Elvis%20was%20embalmed%20at%20the,30%2C000%20fans%20were%20let%20in

http://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Celebs/presley,%20elvis_report.pdf#

https://ourdailyelvis.wordpress.com/2018/10/02/the-elvis-body-theft-plot/

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/elvis-presleys-corpse-was-almost-stolen-and-held-hostage-by-grave-robbers.html/

https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1325304/Elvis-funeral-death-coffin-where-is-Elvis-buried-fans-Graceland-Vernon

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2010-07-21-ct-talk-elvis-autopsy-auction-0722-20100721-story.html

https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1226950/Elvis-Presley-death-died-of-heart-attack-father-Vernon-funeral-grave-fans-music-date-age

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/elvis-autopsy-tools-withdrawn-26665559.html

https://www.academia.edu/4603315/Did_Elvis_Fake_His_Death

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/elvis-presley-constipated-4-months-23395093

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6060861/BBC-reporter-Elvis-Presley-dead-coffin-admits-new-truths.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley

The Death of Anne Lister: Her Post-Mortem Fate

Anne Lister – her life and diaries have gained fame in recent years, especially since the release of the hit tv show Gentlemen Jack starring Suranne Jones. Anne was born in 1791 and began writing her diaries at the age of 15. She was a businesswoman and ran her family estate – Shibden Hall- in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Anne dressed head to toe in black (a woman after my own heart), was an extremely independent woman, and had numerous lesbian affairs. She is often called the ‘first modern lesbian’ and thought of her life partner, Ann Walker, as her wife. The two took sacrament together is a ‘wedding ceremony’ at Holy Trinity Church in York. A plaque dedicated to their union was unveiled there in 2018. Anne’s’ life was chronicled so much in her diaries, but what about her death? How and where did Anne die? Where is she buried now?

Horner, Joshua; Anne Lister of Shibden Hall (1791-1840); Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/anne-lister-of-shibden-hall-17911840-21162

Anne was an avid traveller, has produced volumes upon volumes of travel writing. In 1840 she travelled to Georgia as part of a prolonger trip with her partner Ann Walker. The two had begun the trip in 1839, and had travelled to Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Russia before reaching Georgia. Anne recorded a nasty insect bite she obtained in Georgia in August of 1840. A virulent fever prolonged her death, she suffered for six weeks before dying in the September – she was only 49 years old. It is reported that it took Ann Walker over six months to bring her body home. Her death was reported in the Halifax Guardian on Halloween, reporting that:

We are informed that the remains of this distinguished lady have been embalmed.

Anne’s body is believed to have been brought to Moscow for embalming. Ann Walker ensured her remains were to be transported back to England via Turkey by sea. There has been some suggestion that Anne’s remains would not have been embalmed as the arterial technique was not widespread at the time. However, it may be the case that Anne was partially embalming in some manner that may not have been arterial. Apothecary embalming practices pre-date arterial embalming and may have been used in some manner in the preservation of Anne. Viscera may have been removed and herbs/ alcohol may have been used. Embalming in the 18^th century was often thought to be reserved for the likes of royalty, but Anne was a wealthy woman of noble birth who was to be repatriated in the 19^th century, meaning her death was not a normal circumstance. Although Jean Gannal did not develop arterial embalming fully until 1841 – arterial system preservation was being practiced in anatomical specimen preservation. John Hunter was quite a prolific ‘preparer’ of specimens in Britain during the 18^th century, and William Harvey’s work on the circulatory system had been published in the 17^th century. Anne’s body was reportedly brought to Moscow for preservation, it is not inconceivable that scientific endeavours in the city allowed for her to be embalmed to some extent.

The font at Halifax Minster where Anne was baptised

As well as being preserved, Anne was also placed in a lead lined coffin or lead shell which was then placed inside another wooden coffin. It was lawfully required for a prolonged period in the 19^th century for coffins to be lead-lined to allow for leakage prevention. Her body finally reached Shibden Hall in Halifax in April 1841 – over 6 months after her death. Her funeral was reported to have been attended by thousands of people, with crowds gathered in the streets. The funeral procession consisted of typical Victorian funeral traditions, including a hearse, coaches, and carriages. Anne is one of many Listers to be buried at the minster, but she is by far the most famous. Her exact burial place is not known as her tombstone was broken and moved in the 1870’s (many assume she is buried in the family vault which is located somewhere in the church). It was not found again until 2000 and is now on display at the minster. Listers tombstone still has flower offerings laid on it today, and there are calls from many, including Sally Wainwright, creator of Gentlemen Jack the tv show, for her exact resting place to be located. Over 150 years after her death, the location of Anne’s body is still in the minds of many who are inspired by her and her resilience. Even in death, Anne Lister still interests and captivates people.

Anne Lister’s Tombstone at Halifax Minster

Sources

Anne’s story

Anne’s travels

https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/famous-figures/anne-lister

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Lister#:~:text=Lister%20died%20on%2022%20September,Minster%2C%20on%2029%20April%201841.

Explore Anne ‘Gentleman Jack’ Lister’s Halifax

https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/anne-lister-real-gentleman-jack-diary-code-history-secret-life-britain-first-modern-lesbian/

https://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/the-mystery-of-gentleman-jacks-tombstone

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/gentleman-jack-creator-sally-wainwrights-call-for-anne-listers-burial-spot-to-be-found-3642920

https://www.packedwithpotential.org/stories-articles-writeups/where-is-anne-lister-halifax-minster/where-is-anne-lister-halifax-minster-v3

Damon, A.B., 2020. Anne Lister,“A Sundial in the Shade”: A Gifted Woman in the Nineteenth Century. Women’s Studies, 49(2), pp.130-148.

Zigarovich, J., 2009. Preserved Remains: Embalming Practices in Eighteenth-Century England. Eighteenth-Century Life, 33(3), pp.65-104.

https://artuk.org/discover/stories/lesbian-love-and-coded-diaries-the-remarkable-story-of-anne-lister

When Lightning Strikes: The Tragic Story of the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Grave

A close friend of mine recently told me about a tragic burial at St Thomas’ Church in Leeds. The church has been a place of worship in Stanningley since the 1840’s. Heavily Methodist influenced, the church has two side aisles rather than one central aisle. The church also is home to some beautiful Victorian stained-glass window. One of these windows has been crafted in memory of a young couple who died in the area in 1869. Their grave is located in the churchyard, which my friend’s dad refers to as the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ grave – Patrick Simpson lays flowers every year in memory of these two young Sunday school teachers. A poignant reminder of this tragic story – the subject of my blog post this month.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Igoe_1-Jennings-Lightning-Photograph-1885.jpg

Emma Carrick and Thomas Hardaker were aged between 20-22 when they were killed in September 1869 during a violent storm. They had been courting for 2 or 3 years and were the children of basket makers and cloth weavers from the Pudsey and Stanningley areas. According to a lengthy news article that reported their deaths, the couple were keen to spend much time together the weekend of the tragedy, as Thomas was travelling a lot with his brother to take charge of a bazaar. The couple were last seen together in conversation by locals before their bodies were discovered after they were ‘struck down by the electric fluid and killed on the spot.’ It was thought they were both struck by the lightening as they had been in close proximity to an iron railing. They were both found lying next to each other with scorch marks upon their faces – the only indication on their bodies that they had been struck. The coins found in Thomas’ possession were found to have melted together from the strike.

The funeral of the lovers attracted a huge crowd, with both hearses travelling in procession side by side. It was estimated that up to 7000 people attended the ceremony. Factory workers attended in their work clothing, with the friends and family of Thomas accompanying his side of the hearse and Emma’s accompanying hers. Mourners were seen adorned in the traditional Victorian black garb and also in some white garments – likely representing the youth and innocence of the couple who were due to be married in two months before their death. Black cloth was placed upon the coffins and the Death March was played as the coffins were being interred – first Thomas, before Emma was placed on top. Understandably, their death was spoken about all over the North of England. The newspaper report from Leeds at the time emphasised the fact that both of them looked peaceful in death, and that it did not seem that they had suffered in their demise. The rosiness of Emma’s cheeks in death was especially emphasised. It was also written that perhaps the couple deemed so respected and worthy that they were deemed fit to pass painlessly by God due to the tenderness of their love – the newspaper stated that the Romans thought anyone struck by lightning were favourites of the gods. Although the write up of their death is poetic, no amount of flowery language can hide the fact that these young lovers suffered a tragic fate.

You can visit the gravestone today. On the gravestone it states that Emma and Thomas were –

‘Entr’d into rest Sept 5^th 1869

Being Called Home By A Flash Of Lightning.’

The inscription also states how well liked the both of them were, and that they were both teachers in the Sunday school. I think the ‘Romeo and Juliet Grave’ is a fitting name for them – both couples having died in tragic circumstances.

Sources

https://stthomasstanningley.org/

http://www.calverley.info/

http://www.calverley.info/lt1.htm

The Archaeology of Quarantine: Four Examples of Disease Quarantining in the Archaeological Record

As I am writing this blog post, I am coming out of self-isolation after contracting Covid-19. It was frustrating but necessary, and we were lucky to be in comfortable surroundings with heat, water, food, and electricity. But quarantining to prevent the spread of disease is far from a modern concept. This blog post will explore the archaeology of quarantine by examining four case studies.

Lazzaretto Vecchio and Lazzaretto Nuovo, Venice.

In the 15^th century, Venetians inflicted with plague were subjected to periods of quarantine on the islands of Lazzaretto Vecchio and Lazzaretto Nuovo. Venice was first struck by the bubonic plague pandemic in the 14^th century, and these islands show archaeologists the measures took to avoid mass infection. At the start of the 15^th century, Vecchio was used for isolating sick Venetians, and Nuovo was used for ships to remains in quarantine for 40 days until docking in Venice. In fact, the word quarantine comes from the Italian phrase quaranta giorni, which means 40 days. Archaeologists have examined the buildings left on both islands and have found that there was a system in place for infected and non-infected individuals and an area for cargo to be stored and aired out. The skeletal remains of inhabitants on the island revealed to archaeologists that people of all classes were struck with illness, as diets ranged from meat consumption associated with the rich and a grain diet associated with poorer members of society. Graves were opened numerous times to add more bodies of victims, illustrating extent of the pandemic and the mass graves needed on the island.

The Lazzaretto Station, Philadelphia.

Inspired by the Venetian Lazzaretto’s, the Lazzaretto Station was established in Philadelphia in the 18^th century. Lazzaretto comes from St Lazarus, the saint associated with those afflicted with leprosy. The Lazzaretto Station was moved further down river from Philadelphia after the yellow fever outbreak in the 1790’s. The station has 500 hospital beds, an area for quarantine, an area for staff as well as a cemetery. As in 15^th century Venice, any ships with a sign of illness were to stay quarantined for 40 days. The caption had to answer questions upon arrival and crew/ passengers were inspected for signs of illness. The quarantine season ran between June and October, and it is thought that up to 1 in 3 Americans had an ancestor come through the Lazzaretto Station. Although no extensive archaeological excavations have been carried out at the site many buildings still stand. The limited archaeological evidence suggests the site had been home to the Native American Okehocking tribe as far back as 1200 BCE and the site of a 17^th century Swedish colony. The still standing building was threatened with redevelopment in recent years, with activists stepping in to prevent the site being knocked down. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970’s and is considered one of the oldest surviving quarantine hospitals.

Kamau Taurua, New Zealand.

Kamau Taurua/ Quarantine Island was the site of a quarantine station between 1861 and 1924. The site was used for two major quarantine phases – during the 1870’s and during the First World War. Over 40 ships and around 9000 people quarantined at the island, and over 70 known people are buried on the island in a cemetery. The last ship to quarantine at the station was in 1902. During WWI, the island was used to quarantine and treat soldiers who were suffering from venereal disease. Between 1916 and 1919 almost 800 men were treated for syphilis and gonorrhoea. The decision to keep the men on the island was met with criticism in the press, with many questioning the need to keep the soldiers ‘out of sight’ from the general population. Rationale behind the quarantine included protection the ‘woman and children of the country’. There are ongoing efforts by conservationists to preserve and restore some of the original buildings, including the Married Quarters. Several middens on the island show evidence of occupation hundreds of years ago by the Māori. Today, the island can still be visited. You can stay overnight, participate in walking tours and ecological activities. There have been many archaeological surface finds on the island, comprising of glass, pottery vessels, clay pipes, a pocket watch, bottle stopper and a bullet cartridge.

Hoffman Island and Swinburne Island, New York.

These two artificial islands were created in the 1870’s off the coast of New York to tackle the outbreak of disease. They were commissioned by the federal government, and all ships coming from regions associated with infectious disease were expected to drop their anchor at the islands for inspection. The ship would be boarded by an inspection officer and if any sign of disease was present onboard, then the passengers would be sent to Swinburne Island for treatment. Bu the 1890s, the facilities on Swinburne had grown to numerous hospital wards (mainly for the treatment of yellow fever and cholera), a mortuary, and a crematorium. Hoffman, much like Quarantine Island off New Zealand, became a place to treat venereal disease in WWI soldiers. Both islands were decommissioned in the 1920’s. The islands are not open to the public today but are home to nesting birds and other wildlife. Vascular fauna has been sampled on the island, and the remains of the buildings are still visible from the shore – the archaeological investigations have been limited, but it is fair to say that there is great potential for future excavations to reveal more about quarantine in the past.

Swinburne Island is seen from Chopper 880 – July 10, 2013 (credit: Tom Kaminski / WCBS 880)

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/historyquarantine.html

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/venice-quarantine-history/

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/2992

https://www.ushistory.org/laz/history/sell5.htm

Lazaretto

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Lazaretto

History

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantine_Island_/_Kamau_Taurua

Island of shame

Click to access QI-Surface-Finds-1-1.pdf

https://nycemetery.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/quarantine-cemeteries/

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3088684.pdf?casa_token=vhI-SttOB54AAAAA:H8CrIX7_-pAe8QKYF49t1wVdsFddmeLdknrF8T59wJvVMuu6UEEOxA1XbZwEq8oVjBPIU55s42H3tC6XdBnG94b4UZNw9iJeKJ-MNW13L1zQJN1D08E

Quarantine Island, Port Chalmers – Nearshore islands – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Veneto – The Land of Venice – Il motore di ricerca degli eventi a Venezia e in Veneto

Check It Out: NYC’s Abandoned Swinburne Island – CBS New York (cbslocal.com)

Preservation of the Lazaretto, America’s oldest surviving quarantine center, finally gets underway – WHYY

Dead Merry: Traditions from the past and present that remember the dead at Christmas

Christmastime is the time of the year that we feel the loss of our loved ones the most. The festive season often pushes the importance of family, and the loss of a family member feels even more apparent. Many omit from Christmas decorations and traditions after the death of a loved one as a sign of mourning, however this does not always feel right for some people, with Christmas often a time the deceased loved one may have enjoyed. To honour those who have died, many cultures past and present partake in certain traditions. In this blogpost I will discuss some of these traditions and how some are still implemented today. Remembering the dead does not have to be sad, particularly during the happiest time of the year, but it can help us remember those who are gone and appreciate those who are still with us.

Image source: https://wiki.aineetonkulttuuriperinto.fi/wiki/Visiting_cemeteries_on_Christmas_Eve

Christmas graveyard visits and candle lighting

Growing up in Catholic, rural Ireland, my family and I visited the graveyard after Christmas morning mass. Christmas wreaths are often placed on the grave of loved ones as well as Christmas decorations of various kinds (see the addition we made we made to my father’s grave, a civil engineer, a few Christmases ago in the next picture)– this is still practiced all over the world, although it is often attributed to being an Irish tradition. I remember connecting and chatting with various family members Christmas morning at the grave of our loved ones, and it was not a dreary or depressing experience. In Finland it is also traditional to visit the grave of a loved one during the festive season – this is usually on Christmas Eve and families light a candle in remembrance of those who have died. The tradition of lighting the candles is thought to date back as far as pagan times, but easily links in with Christian traditions. Candles were also lit and used to adorn Christmas trees during the Victorian period – many may have been in memory of a loved one (Although I don’t recommend this today due to the huge fire risk!).

Christmas tree decorations

The tradition of the decorated Christmas tree becoming widespread in the UK has, in part, links to a death. Prince Albert brought the German tradition of the Christmas tree to prominence in the UK during the reign of Queen Victoria, and in remembrance after his death, Victoria encouraged the carrying on of the tradition. The tradition of the evergreen tree dates back much further than that however, with suggestions that the evergreen wreaths used for decoration in Ancient Egypt during the time of the solstice were to represent life after death. Today, loved ones are often immortalised at Christmastime in personalised Christmas decorations. This is something that I have seen on the rise in recent years, particularly with the popularity of online sites such as Etsy. Personalised Christmas ornaments can be inscribed with the name of loved ones, or possibly their image or photograph put on the decoration. With new technology, it is obvious to me that these decorations will be a new tradition found on Christmas trees all over the world. With Victorian Christmas decorations often being handmade, it likely many personalised decorations were made by families which incorporated mourning practices such as mourning photography and funeral cards. Even Victorian Christmas cards depicted death related topics such as deceased birds – many suggesting this was a nod to anyone who may have died in impoverished conditions at Christmastime.

Image Source: http://www.sewhistorically.com/the-victorian-christmas-tree/

Memorial wreath

Wreaths are ancient in origin – dating back to before Christianity and the widespread celebration of Christmas. Herbs and berries are/ were often added to represent things such as remembrance and prosperity. Ancient gold laurel wreaths have been excavated by archaeologists in Greece, which were often worn on the head and given out as prizes to athletes and orators. The diadem was worn on the head by royalty in Ancient Egypt, and the wreath was also given out as a prize in Ancient Rome. The leaf used on the wreath in ancient society was significant – often representing different gods. The wreath is incorporated into Christmas familial celebrations today, having been adopted into Christian celebrations such as the advent wreath. The wreath as memorial was quite common at funerals during the Victorian period, with a wreath being hung on the door in memory of the deceased. The wreath eventually migrated from a memorial decoration to a Christmas decoration – a memorial wreath was hung on the door and a holiday wreath was hung in the window. Wreaths were sometimes even made from human hair, much like the mourning jewellery of the era. Now, the Christmas wreath is a staple in homes all over the world, and many are now memorialising their loved ones as was done in the past. Memorial wreaths can be personalised and hung in homes or placed on graves.

How will you remember your loved on this Christmas?

Image Source: https://blog.billiongraves.com/preparing-the-victorian-home-for-a-funeral/

Sources

Christmas Death Traditions

https://www.irishamericanmom.com/why-graveyards-remind-me-of-christmas/

Christmas Eve in a candlelit Finnish cemetery

https://wiki.aineetonkulttuuriperinto.fi/wiki/Visiting_cemeteries_on_Christmas_Eve

https://time.com/5736523/history-of-christmas-trees/

https://www.womansday.com/home/a24891720/history-of-christmas-trees/

https://www.joincake.com/blog/remembering-loved-ones-at-christmas/

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/12/loss-loved-one-holiday/578938/

https://www.almanac.com/story-behind-your-christmas-wreath

https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2013/01/30/Archaeology-ancient-gold-wreath-uncovered-Thessaloniki_8163055.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreath_(attire)#Ancient_Greece

Preparing the Victorian Home for a Funeral

Public interactions with human remains: Sedlec Ossuary

I had the privilege of visiting Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic a few weeks ago. The ossuary is in Kutna Hora and is known as the ‘bone chapel’ or the ‘chapel of bones.’ Between 40,000 and 70,000 individuals are thought to be on display – all the remains are skeletal. The ossuary has a long history that stretches back as far as the 13^th century. An abbot scattered soil from the Holy Land on the site and it became a desirable place to be buried in the region. Thousands of people were buried there before they were moved to a crypt after the cemetery became too full. Many of the deceased were victims of the Black Death or were killed during the Hussite Wars. It was around the 16^th century that exhumation of the bones begun.

It wasn’t until the 19^th century that the so-called macabre art was created from the remains. A local woodcarver called Rint arranged the bones in an artistic manner in 1870, before signing the wall with the bones themselves. Rint bleached the bones and created the famous bone chandelier, a coat of arms, candle holders and large bone pyramids. The resulting artwork attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, and even in the short time I was there in the off season I could not help but observe the different reactions to the remains.

I was travelling with a group of archaeologists, who are all well acquainted with skeletal remains but still understand the respect that needs to be shown towards these displays. Upon entering the ossuary, we were told not to take any pictures. This is a recent rule that had to be enforced in January 2020 as many who visited the site were asked to take photos in a respectful manner and did not comply. A press release from the ossuary stated that many were taking derogatory photos, inappropriate selfies and were touching/ manipulating the remains for a picture. Now, you must apply for permission to take photos in the ossuary at least 3 days in advance of your visit with reasons outlining your intentions regarding the distribution of the media.* I was intrigued to see if everyone followed the rules as we entered the chapel.

The reactions to the remains were polarising, even though there was only a small number of visitors at the time we went. One young couple were taking pictures pretty much straight away, with the young woman posing with her hand placed on the bones of the candle holders whilst her partner snapped the image. They were not reprimanded by any staff members as there was not many working there on the day we were there, but it was shocking to see a blatant disregard for the rules straight away. Touching of the bones is forbidden and outlined on the ossuary website. The bones were used as a prop in a picture, exactly how was described in the press realise.

One woman started laughing loudly at the site as she turned to leave, stating ‘this is not for me!’ Another rule outlined on the website is to keep the noise down to show respect for the dead. It was likely this woman was very uncomfortable and didn’t know how to react to the remains. I heard the rest of her group say outside that they weren’t ‘expecting whatever that was!’ and that they expected the bones ‘to have been ground up and used as cement rather than displayed’ (both comments have been edited for clarity). Obviously, the group were not keen on the visit, and did not research the site properly before visiting.

As an archaeologist who studies the dead, it was hard not to cringe at some of the reactions of others at the site, but we must understand that not everyone will grasp the fact that these disarticulated remains were once people and are not objects. The fact that the remains have been arranged in such a manner may make it difficult for those who do not often come in contact with the deceased not to see them as objects, or perhaps become extremely uncomfortable with display. However, we must encourage those who intend to visit the site to research it before hand and become acquainted with the rules – something which evidently didn’t happen on the day we visited. The defleshed body can often leave us far removed from the deceased, as skeletal remains are not something we see every day, but we should always treat them with respect – whether they are arranged in a manner you do not agree with or not.

If you are interested in human remains and studies of death, then I would definitely recommend a visit to the ossuary. You can find the list of regulations in the resource list below – just remember the ‘chandelier’ or ‘candle holders’ were/ are human and should be treated as such.

(*Images used in this blog post were taken by an archaeologist before the ban on photography was introduced.)

Sources

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sedlec-ossuary

Sedlec Ossuary

Click to access kostnice_navstevni-rad-en.pdf

https://www.sedlec.info/pro-media/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary

Irish Women and Death Series: Dr Dorothy Stopford Price and the Introduction of the BCG Vaccine.

Perhaps one of the lesser-known Irish heroines is Dr Dorothy Stopford Price. Born in Ireland in 1890, Dorothy became of pioneer of the BCG vaccine and the tuberculin test in Ireland. Although this blog post series is entitled ‘Irish Women and Death’, this is about an Irish woman who prevented death and dying amongst the Irish people. She was credited by her peers with playing a huge part in helping bring an end to the tuberculosis epidemic in Ireland. Often referred to as ‘Ireland’s rebel doctor’, this is the story of Dr Dorothy Stopford Price and her battle against death in Ireland.

Dorothy went to study medicine in Trinity College Dublin in 1916, a very tumultuous year in Ireland in which the Easter Rising took place. The execution of the rebels caused her to swing her sympathies towards the nationalists, even though she was very friendly with a key figure in the British administration. After the Rising, Dorothy joined Cumann na mBan (League of Women/ Irish Women’s Council), a nationalist group for Irish women as she began to question to British regime in Ireland. She even trained some Cumann na mBan members in first aid at the West Cork IRA stronghold – risking her career in the process. She treated the wounded during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, working as a medical officer for the RIC barracks.

Whilst in her third year of medical school, the Spanish Flu epidemic hit Ireland after the First World War. Dorothy was exposed to huge amounts of death and dying, tending to the inflicted living as well as conducting post-mortems on the dead. The rate of death and infection no doubt had a huge impact on Dorothy’s later championing of vaccination. As part of her MD thesis, she investigated the diagnosis of tuberculosis in early childhood.

After witnessing a huge amount of child mortality in the 1920’s in Dublin whilst working as physician in a children’s hospital, it was in 1931 that came was a defining moment in Dorothy’s career. In Vienna, she saw Dr Franz Hamburger use tuberculin to diagnose tuberculosis by observing a skin reaction. Dorothy brought a tube of tuberculin back to Ireland, and by 1934, she had managed to carry out over 500 tests. Her findings concluded that vaccination needed to be implemented in Ireland (as many had not been exposed to tb so immunity could not develop), and in Sweden in 1936 Dorothy saw the use of the BCG vaccine. She was the first person to use the vaccine in Ireland in 1937, around the same time of the Ring Disaster – this brought the effectiveness of vaccination into question as a group of children who had been vaccinated against diphtheria had developed tuberculosis.

Dorothy attempted to set up an Antituberculosis League in Ireland in the 1940’s, but unfortunately the Archbishop of Dublin at the time protested against the number of protestants who were present in the league. The league was never established, but Dorothy still campaigned for vaccination against tuberculosis in Ireland and across Europe. In 1949, the Irish health minister asked Dorothy to lead a new committee to implement vaccination in Ireland. Dorothy was also nominated for a WHO prize for her contribution to social medicine. She suffered a stroke in 1950 and died in 1954 from a second stroke. Many attributed her stroke and death to stress and overworking. Dr Dorothy Stopford Price is one of the unknown heroines of the Irish healthcare system who worked herself to death in an attempt to prevent death on a mass scale in Ireland.

Sources

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(14)70193-6/fulltext

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/ireland-s-rebel-doctor-dorothy-stopford-price-1.1853930

https://womensmuseumofireland.ie/articles/dorothy-stopford-price

https://www.lottie.com/blogs/strong-women/dorothy-price

https://www.ria.ie/news/dictionary-irish-biography/favourite-dib-lives-dorothy-stopford-price-dochtuir

https://irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-database/dorothy-stopford-price

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20265331.html