Using Cemeteries to Learn Local History

Find-A-Grave to Discover African American History

Memorial Day encouraged cemetery hopping.  Adjacent to a beautiful, modern, well tended and decorated cemetery on the hill in Kansas City, Kansas, there's a less cared for weedy spacious cemetery sloping toward a ravine.  Many headstones had toppled over into the dandelions being choked by another weed variety.  Yet, I couldn't help but wonder who was buried in the Westlawn Cemetery.  My car, seemingly on its own, turned into the "less than" welcoming gates.  (Well actually I told my husband to turn).  But, even the entrance wept of the echoing struggle of the plots of loved ones. 

Westlawn Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas

Many elderly were walking in search of tombstones, but what I quickly noticed was that, at that time, every single person was African American.  Now, I can't say this is a complete African American cemetery, but I saw nothing that indicated otherwise.

The Westlawn Cemetery haunted me, so once I reached my trusty computer, I quickly researched using Find A Grave.  As I had suspected, the Westlawn Cemetery is the last resting place (maybe the only resting place) of ancestors who had a struggling past.  But there were a few noticeables that left me with researchable questions:

1) This was far west (and south) of the early African American Kansas City community. Why were they buried here, so far from the community? 

2) There were an extreme amount of children who died in the 1920's and a lot of plots in that timeframe. Perhaps the heyday of that cemetery, or was there an epidemic at the time?

3) Another large percentage of burials in the 1950's. A struggling time for African Americans may give rise to this once prestigious cemetery (based on the headstones) popularity. Is this cemetery telling me something about the social class of Kansas City?

4) There were several recent burials (as late as 2005 - Vera Jane Patterson). Although for many obvious reasons, the family of Patterson may have interred their love one at Westlawn, but why in a ground-shifting sloping area where the life struggles continue in fighting dandelions, and headstone topplings?

Find A Grave gave 448 interments; 2 famous persons.  What is considered famous at any given time, gives the genealogical researcher a lot of information on the social history:

Brown, Ada b. May 1, 1890  d. March 31, 1950
Most famous for her appearance in Stormy Weather, Ada Brown was a Blues Singer. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, her early career was spent on stage in musical theaters and vaudeville. In 1926, she made her first recording "Evil Mama Blues" with band leader Bennie Moten. Her other recordings included, "111 Natural Blues", "Break O'Day Blues", "That Ain't Right" and "Crazy 'Bout My Lollypop". She was a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America in 1936, performed on Broadway in the 1930s and appeared in the 1943 film, "Story Weather". (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith). 

This bio is a scant overview of her contributions. Be sure to read about her at Google Books, Harlem Renaissance Lives from the African AmericanNational Biography, pg. 74-75.

Scott, James S.  b. 1886  d. 1938

Musician, Composer. Born in Neosho, Newton County, Mo.  Known as the “Little Professor,” he was second only to his contemporary and friend Scott Joplin. Born the second child of former slaves, in Neosho, Missouri, he composed such works like the "Hilarity Rag," "Frog Legs Rag," and "Kansas City Rag". After the popularity of rag gave way to jazz, he was employed as music director of a cinema chain located in and around the Jazz district of Kansas City until the advent of talkies made music during the feature obsolete.  He gave piano lessons and continued to write music throughout his life but could no longer secure a publisher. He died in Kansas City in 1938.  (Bio by: G.B.O) 

Each has a story to be told.  And although my ancestors do not rest among the 448 in Westlawn Cemetery it would be great to have a bit on each.  Who are these people? What did they do? How did they pass the day?  And where is the Westlawn Cemetery groundskeeper?

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com