Oakwood Cemetery

Nestled in the heart of Austin, Texas, lies a cemetery deeply intertwined with Austin's racial history. Established in 1839 as a public cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery is the oldest state-owned cemetery and the oldest in Austin. It has been a site of unity and segregation, reflecting the broader history of race relations in Texas and the United States. Despite this darker page in history, Oakwood Cemetery remains a site of unity and reverence, with over 40 acres of manicured grounds that honor the memories of its diverse inhabitants. Oakwood Cemetery is home to many notable figures, from city leaders to civil rights leaders.¹

Established in 1839, Oakwood Cemetery began as a small plot of land spanning around ten acres, with four burial plots. Over the years, the cemetery has expanded and now covers more than 40 acres.  Originally named the City Cemetery, it underwent a few name changes over time. In 1903, it was renamed the Austin City Cemetery, and finally, in 1912, it received its current name, Oakwood Cemetery. ²

Although it was initially intended to be a public cemetery for the state, Oakwood Cemetery was transferred to the City of Austin in 1856.  Later, in 1859, the City set aside section four for the burial of people of color, out-of-town visitors, and impoverished individuals.³ Despite appearances, this section of the cemetery contains thousands of burials, many of which may have been marked with less durable materials that have deteriorated over time. While most individuals buried in this area were of African American descent, it was also relegated to “paupers.” This area's burials are officially recorded as taking place in the "Colored Grounds."⁴ Furthermore, The cemetery was racially segregated until the mid-1960s when civil rights legislation abolished such practices.  

The cemetery has over 22,000 burials, but only 15,000 of them are marked with tombstones. Many of these unmarked graves are located on the “colored grounds,” where the markers have deteriorated or were never even placed.⁵

Oakwood Cemetery also is the final resting place for many notable figures who have left their mark on Texas history. Among them are Jim Hog, a revered former governor of Texas, and Jacob Fontaine, a famous Austin civil rights leader who established the First Baptist Church and the Gold Dollar newspaper.⁶ 

In 1914 the city constructed a mortuary chapel within the grounds, and in late 2016 it underwent a rehabilitation project. However, archaeologists monitoring the project made a significant discovery. The chapel was built over unmarked graves containing the remains of men, women, and children.⁷ This discovery sparked a debate within the city of Austin about the fate of the chapel and the best way to handle the bones of the buried individuals. In 2017, a decision was made to exhume the remains discovered beneath the chapel and to continue the reconstruction. But, the remains were not discarded. Instead, they were collected and sent to a lab for DNA analysis to shed more light on their identities and histories, with a final report coming in 2024.⁸

Overall, Oakwood Cemetery is significant to Austin's history and its past of segregation. The cemetery's legacy can be seen in its segregated section and its lack of known records. Today, the cemetery continues to be an active burial ground, with regular maintenance and upkeep by the city government of Austin.

(1) SAVE AUSTIN’S CEMETERIES. “Oakwood Cemetery.” SAVE AUSTIN’S CEMETERIES. Accessed May 15, 2023. https://www.sachome.org/oakwood-cemetery.

(2) SAVE AUSTIN’S CEMETERIES. “Oakwood Cemetery.” SAVE AUSTIN’S CEMETERIES. Accessed May 15, 2023. https://www.sachome.org/oakwood-cemetery.

(3)AMATERRA ENVIRONMENTAL. “Austin Cemeteries Master Plan Book.” ACMP Book, August 10, 2015. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5df2dda9db01f91895363fb9/t/5e3376f82b2d5a648e1e984a/1580431122968/3-Austin+Cemeteries+Master+Plan+8-2015+Ch4-web.pdf. 

(4) AMATERRA ENVIRONMENTAL. “Austin Cemeteries Master Plan Book.” ACMP Book, August 10, 2015. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5df2dda9db01f91895363fb9/t/5e3376f82b2d5a648e1e984a/1580431122968/3-Austin+Cemeteries+Master+Plan+8-2015+Ch4-web.pdf. 

(5) AMATERRA ENVIRONMENTAL. “Austin Cemeteries Master Plan Book.” ACMP Book, August 10, 2015. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5df2dda9db01f91895363fb9/t/5e3376f82b2d5a648e1e984a/1580431122968/3-Austin+Cemeteries+Master+Plan+8-2015+Ch4-web.pdf. 

(6) Peterson, Keith. “Jacob Fontaine Historical Marker.” The Historical Marker Database, December 26, 2009. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=80454. 

(7) AustinTexas.gov. “Oakwood Cemetery Chapel Rehabilitation.” Oakwood Cemetery Chapel Rehabilitation | AustinTexas.gov, November 8, 2022. https://www.austintexas.gov/OakwoodProject.

(8) AustinTexas.gov. “Oakwood Cemetery Chapel Rehabilitation.” Oakwood Cemetery Chapel Rehabilitation | AustinTexas.gov, November 8, 2022. https://www.austintexas.gov/OakwoodProject.