Lebanon Cemetery facts for kids

Lebanon Cemetery was a special burial ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was created in 1849 for African Americans. At that time, it was one of only two private cemeteries in Philadelphia for African Americans. Sadly, Lebanon Cemetery was officially closed in 1903. Before it closed, the bodies buried there were moved to Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania in 1902.

Today, the former location of the cemetery is a street corner at 19th Street and Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia.

History of Lebanon Cemetery

Why Lebanon Cemetery Was Created

Lebanon Cemetery was officially started on January 24, 1849. It was founded by Jacob C. White. The cemetery was located on Passyunk Road, which is now near 19th Street and Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia.

This cemetery was important because it was nonsectarian. This means it was open to people of all faiths. It was specifically for African Americans. At the time, many new cemeteries did not allow African Americans to be buried there.

A Place for Civil War Heroes

During the American Civil War, Lebanon Cemetery was part of the United States National Cemetery System. A special area within the cemetery was set aside for soldiers. About 339 African-American veterans of the U.S. Civil War were buried in this reserved section. These soldiers had died in nearby hospitals. Later, in 1885, their bodies were moved to the Philadelphia National Cemetery.

A Fight for Fair Burial Rights

In the early 1870s, a wealthy African-American man named Henry Jones bought a burial plot. He planned to be buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. When he died in 1875, the cemetery refused to bury him because he was Black.

A lawsuit was filed against Mount Moriah Cemetery. In 1876, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that Jones had the right to be buried there. While the court case was happening, Jones' body was kept in a vault at Lebanon Cemetery. His family had thought about burying him at Lebanon Cemetery. However, he may have been buried at the Church of St. James the Less in Philadelphia instead.

The Body Snatching Scandal

In 1882, a newspaper story caused a big stir. A journalist found out that people were secretly digging up bodies from Lebanon Cemetery. These "body snatchers" were selling the bodies to Jefferson Medical College. The medical students used the bodies for their studies.

Four people, including the cemetery supervisor, were arrested. They were sent to Moyamensing Prison. They had been selling bodies for about $15 each. After the arrests, it was discovered that this had been happening for nine years. Hundreds of bodies had been sold to the medical college. This news made the African-American community in Philadelphia very upset.

A famous surgeon and professor, William S. Forbes, was arrested in connection with the grave robberies. However, he was found not guilty. Forbes had helped write a law in 1867 called the "Anatomy Act." This law said that hospitals, prisons, and mental health wards should give bodies of people who had no family or money for burial to medical schools for research.

Because of the Lebanon Cemetery scandal, a new law was passed in 1883. It was called the Pennsylvania Anatomy Act of 1883. This law made it easier for medical colleges to get bodies legally. This way, they didn't have to buy them from grave robbers.

The Cemetery's Closure

By 1889, Lebanon Cemetery was very crowded and not well cared for. As the city grew, parts of the cemetery were taken over for new developments. By 1900, the cemetery had shrunk from its original 11 acres to just 6 acres. It held over 17,000 bodies.

In 1899, the city decided that the cemetery was no longer safe or suitable. In 1902, all the bodies were moved to Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania. Lebanon Cemetery was officially closed in 1903.

Notable People Buried Here

Many important people were first buried at Lebanon Cemetery. Their bodies were later moved to Eden Cemetery. Some of these notable individuals include:

• John C. Bowers (1811–1873) – An entrepreneur, organist, and someone who worked to end slavery.
• Emilie Davis (1839–1889) – A writer known for her diaries during the Civil War.
• Octavius Valentine Catto (1839–1871) – A leader in civil rights and a pioneer in baseball.
• Absalom Jones (1746–1818) – A key figure in the movement to end slavery and a clergyman. He was first buried at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. His body was moved to Lebanon Cemetery in 1887 when the church was torn down.
• Grace A. Mapps (c. 1835–1897) – An educator, administrator, and poet.