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Grey Roots Fall Lecture Series: Elysia DeLaurentis – A Grave Offenc
October 28 at 1 PM – included with admission and free for Grey Roots members.
Some are surprised to learn that body snatching was widely practiced in Ontario throughout the 19th century and even into the early 20th. Repugnant and disconcerting to most, it was viewed by many at the time as a necessary evil. While no one wanted their own graves or those of loved ones to be disturbed, most recognized the importance of fresh cadavers in providing medical students with the hands-on experience they needed to gain competency in their field. This illustrated talk explores the rich and complex history of a subject that was viewed with distaste at the time and is almost unfathomable today. It delves into the long history of the practice and, using examples from urban and rural Ontario, examines whose bodies got snatched and how, what became of them, and who was behind this unsavoury practice.
A more suitable presentation for Halloween would be difficult to find! It will be a perfect accompaniment to our exhibit, Going Out in Style, returning to Grey Roots in October.
Presenter Elysia DeLaurentis is a returning favourite of our Lecture Series. She is a local historian with over 25 years experience in the heritage field. She is the owner of, and principal researcher for, Oakenwood Research Services.
