Forgotten Landscapes honors the individuals buried in the Jackson County Poor Farm cemetery on Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s campus. As a poor farm (1873-1940s) and then Sunset Haven nursing home (1940s-1960), this property was home to some of Jackson County’s most disadvantaged and forgotten residents. It tells the story of how Professors Mark Wagner and Ryan Campbell of SIU’s Center for Archaeological Investigations, along with students, conducted research that led to the rediscovery of the cemetery and subsequent excavation work. It also provides historical context of poverty and poor farms in Illinois.
Credits
Dr. Ryan Campbell, Dr. Mark Wagner, SIU Center for Archaeological Investigations