Over the last seven weeks, forensic scientists and genealogists from Intermountain Forensics, the laboratory assisting the City with DNA analysis for the 1921 Graves Investigation, has received nearly 50 more contacts from people who think they may have a connection to the 1921 Graves Investigation and the surnames and locations of interest that were announced in April 12.
“As work continues to unearth the truth 102 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, we are inching closer finding answers in an unprecedented identification process, the likes of which have never been undertaken before,” said G.T. Bynum, Tulsa Mayor “I am thankful for the incredible team at Intermountain Forensics and all of the people who have come forward to share information about their family histories in this significant effort.”
DNA analysis and genealogical work continues to provide promising results, though the process takes time, experts from Intermountain Forensics say they are thankful for the more than 130 people who have shared information with the team on this project and are hopeful more will get involved.
"This project is a blend of community involvement and forensic DNA science,” said Deborah Dilley, Executive Director of Intermountain Forensics. “We are so grateful for the continued support of the community of Tulsa, and specifically to those families who were and are a part of the Greenwood District. Between the forensic DNA analysis and the genealogical investigation, we find ourselves each day a little closer to identifying those remains unearthed at Oaklawn Cemetery."
Six new DNA samples are currently undergoing DNA sequencing, with results from that, expected here in the next few weeks. These results could lead to additional surnames and locations of interest.
There are other burials that are continuing to have DNA analyzed, extracted, and enriched. Those DNA samples that move out of these phases will then go into the sequencing phase.
The Genealogical work continues connecting people to the six burials, surnames, and locations of interest announced on April 12.
Since April 12, surnames and locations of interest for five of the burials have been updated, the genealogy team is working to connect with community members who have the same surnames and locations of interest in their family trees.
Updated surnames/locations for Burial 1:
- Jones and Medler of Clay County, Mississippi, 1880-1900
Updated surnames/locations for Burial 3:
- Daniel, Meriwether, Sims, and Bohannon of Coweta County, Georgia, area.
- Scott and Huntley from Coweta and Troup Counties, Georgia.
- Robert Benjamin family of Austin County, Texas, in late 1800s.
Additional surnames/locations for Burial 13:
- Surnames/Locations of Interest #1: Bremby family (also spelled Bembry, Brembry, Brimbry, etc.) of Sealy, Texas, and Austin County, Texas, and nearby Colorado County, Texas.
- Some of the Texas Bremby family were briefly in Tulsa, so the genealogy team is interested in connecting with Oklahoma community members with any variations of that surname.
- Surnames/Locations of Interest #2: Maggett
- Area(s): Mississippi
- Surnames/Locations of Interest #3: Strong, McGee
- Area(s): Union Parish, Louisiana, and Texas
- Surnames/Locations of Interest #4: Still
- Area(s): Oklahoma during Indian Territory designation
Surnames/locations for Burial 15:
- Surnames/Locations of Interest #1: Holden, Larrimore
- Area(s): Sabine Parish, Louisiana
- Surnames/Locations of Interest #2: Luckett, Mayre
- Area(s): Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Updated surnames/locations for Burial 17:
- Rentie, Kernal, Grayson, Island and Smith families who were Muscogee (Creek) Freedmen in the late 1800s
- Davis family of Kaufman, Texas, and Okmulgee, Oklahoma, in the early 1900s
Updated surnames/location for Burial 41:
- Alexander of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
People with these names in their family trees are asked to visit the Intermountain Forensics website and click the "Provide Information" button.
To get ahold of Intermountain Forensics’ genealogy team directly, you can call them (801) 904-2230 and press three.
A detailed list of burials with surnames and locations of interest can be found at The City of Tulsa 1921 Graves Investigation.