The skulls of 19 African Americans, removed from their bodies and sent to Germany for pseudoscientific research more than 140 years ago, have been returned to New Orleans for a ceremonial burial.
The remains were sent in the 1880s by New Orleans physician Dr. Henry D. Schmidt to Leipzig, Germany, to be used in phrenology research, a now-debunked field that falsely claimed skull shapes could determine personality traits and intelligence.
In 2023, researchers at the University of Leipzig began efforts to repatriate the skulls. On their return, New Orleans honoured the individuals with a traditional jazz funeral.
“This is a demonstration of our morality, both here in New Orleans and in Leipzig,” said historian Eva Baham, who led a team of researchers investigating the case. “The professors there wanted to do something to restore the dignity of these people.”
Baham said the 19 individuals are believed to have died of natural causes. Their return marks a significant moment of historical reckoning and an attempt to correct the injustices of the past.