Join us for our July Summer Lecture Series, A Famine of Cadavers: Inside Indy’s 1902 Graverobbing Syndicate, on July 11, 2026 in the History Reference Room at the Indiana State Library from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

In the fall of 1902, Indianapolis police uncovered a prolific graverobbing ring that operated across central Indiana. An estimated 300 robberies had taken place in Marion County alone. Drawing on research from his book “Indianapolis Graverobbing: A Syndicate of Death,” public historian Chris Flook will examine the "ghouls" who robbed graves for cadavers needed by the city’s medical colleges and the trials related to the scandal.

This event is free and open to the public.  

Registration is required.

If you cannot attend in person, but would like to attend virtually using Zoom, you can register here.

Indiana librarians will receive one LEU for attending.

Flook has published four books of public history, including “Ghost of Old Muncie,” “Indianapolis Graverobbing,” “Native Americans of East-Central Indiana” and “Lost Towns of Delaware County.” In 2016, he co-authored and edited “Beech Grove Cemetery Comes to Life.” Flook writes the bi-monthly ByGone Muncie history column for The Star Press newspaper. He also volunteers at the Delaware County Historical Society and teaches motion graphic design in the Department of Media at Ball State University as a senior lecturer.

Parking validation will be available for attendees who park in the Senate Avenue parking garage directly across from the library and bring their ticket in for validation.

Send questions to Michelle Frost at mifrost@library.in.gov.

The Indiana State Library will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. If you require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in this program, service or activity of the Indiana State Library, please contact Diana Doore at 317-232-6276 or DDoore@library.IN.gov. Notice of a needed accommodation should be provided as soon as possible to allow time for the State Library to arrange for the accommodation; however, notice of a needed accommodation must be provided to one of the above contacts no later than 48 hours in advance.