Dr. Patricia Richards and the MCPFC Story: Narrative History and Historiography

Summary

This is an abstract from the "There and Back Again: Celebrating the Career and Ongoing Contributions of Patricia B. Richards" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This paper illustrates how Milwaukee County institutions' relationships with commercial, social, and religious enterprises, particularly those involving the Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemeteries (MCPFC), were reflected in contemporary written accounts. Further, it examines how archaeological investigations have changed and challenged these accounts. Archaeological and historical data are used to identity specific instances where the Milwaukee County institutions were involved with private business concerns. Exploring public perceptions of the MCPFC over time in press, popular, and specialist accounts will demonstrate that the archaeology conducted and directed by Patricia Richards is vital to an honest and still-awaited public reckoning with this part of our history.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• There and Back Again: Celebrating the Career and Ongoing Contributions of Patricia B. Richards   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39104.0