NEW ORLEANS – Earlier this month, Dillard University, in partnership with the City of New Orleans and University Medical Center New Orleans, hosted Kumbuka Dancers honored 19 individuals whose crania were taken from New Orleans and sent to Leipzig, Germany for racial pseudoscience over 150 years ago.
The following individuals were laid to rest at Katrina Memorial: Adam Grant, Isaak Bell, Hiram Smith, William Pierson, Henry Williams, John Brown, Hiram Malone, William Roberts, Alice Brown, Prescilla Hatchet, Marie Louise, Mahala, Samuel Prince, John Tolman, Henry Allen, Moses Willis and Henry Anderson. Individuals finally received long-overdue recognition in full New Orleanian spirit with Jazz band, second line, performed by Black Men of Labor, and Kumbuka Dancers.
“Dillard University is deeply honored to serve as a steward in the sacred process of cultural repatriation,” said Dr. Monique Guillory, President of Dillard University. “This moment calls us to bear witness to a painful chapter in our collective history while recognizing the unique role our institution plays in preserving the dignity and legacy of those who were wrongfully taken. This is more than an act of remembrance – it is a restoration of humanity.”
“We honor the lives of those who have gone before us and place in remembrance with dignity and respect the sacred remains of those nineteen people,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “As Mayor of New Orleans and on behalf of our citizens in the spirit of divine love, we pray that they will forever rest in God’s perfect peace.”
“It is a profound honor for a coalition of community partners to work alongside the University of Leipzig to ensure that these individuals are returned home with the dignity and reverence they were long denied,” said Dr. Eva Baham, Chair of the Repatriation Committee. “This collaboration is not only an act of justice – it is an act of healing, rooted in a shared commitment to truth and historical accountability.”
“At University Medical Center, we are proud of our deep roots in Charity Hospital and remain committed to honoring that legacy by partnering with institutions that share our history and dedication to our community,” said Charlotte Parent, Vice President of Business Development at University Medical Center New Orleans.
“We are honored to join Dillard University and the City of New Orleans in recognizing and respecting the individuals and families impacted by racial inequities, as we work together to create a more just and compassionate future.”
The visitation took place on Saturday, May 31 at 9am at Dillard University Lawless Memorial Chapel followed by a Memorial Service at 11am.
In the 1880s, New Orleans physician Dr. Henry D. Schmidt provided 19 crania to Dr. Emil Ludwig Schmidt of Leipzig, Germany. These human remains, belonging to African Americans, and were acquired and used for racially biased scientific research. In 2023, the University of Leipzig contacted the City of New Orleans Archaeologist with an offer to repatriate the remains, prompting the formation of a multi-agency effort.
This collaboration includes Dillard University, the City of New Orleans, University Medical Center and other community partners.
During the 1800s when racial injustice was at its height, Charity Hospital did not deny care regardless of race, nationality, religion, sex or character. In continuation of that legacy, University Medical Center is honored to grant these 19 individuals the respect and peace they deserve.