Potter’s field is the name given to public burial grounds for the unknown or indigent dead. The term originates from the Bible, referring to a field that was purchased with the 30 pieces of silver given to Judas Iscariot for his betrayal of Jesus Christ. The field was called the “Potter’s Field” because it was used to get clay for pottery making. Over time, potter’s field became synonymous with any public burial ground for the poor or unclaimed dead.
Potter’s fields have a long history in the United States and other parts of the world. They provided a necessary public service at a time when many people could not afford private burials. While the name “potter’s field” is still sometimes used, public burial grounds today are more commonly called “indigent cemeteries” or “public cemeteries.”
History of Potter’s Fields in the United States
Some of the earliest potter’s fields in America were located in Philadelphia and New York City in the 1700s. As urban populations grew in the 1800s, potter’s fields were established in many major cities to bury the indigent dead. They were generally located on inexpensive land outside city limits.
Potter’s fields were regarded as gloomy, dismal places and often lacked proper record keeping of burials. Graves were frequently shallow and poorly marked. It was not uncommon for graves to be reused after a period of time. City governments were inconsistent in maintaining potter’s fields, which added to their reputation as bleak, uncared for places.
Burials in potter’s fields were often arranged by local undertakers contracted by city officials. Coffins were simple wood boxes provided by the city. Grave diggers working in potter’s fields were often inmates of local jails or workhouses. Burials took place quickly with minimal ceremony.
By the late 1800s, there was a growing movement to reform burial procedures for the poor. Potter’s fields began to be professionally managed cemeteries rather than haphazard graveyards. This trend continued into the early 1900s.
Notable Potter’s Fields in History
Here are some of the most well-known potter’s fields in American history:
- Hart Island, New York City – Purchased in 1868 for use as a potter’s field. Still in operation today with over 1 million burials.
- Dunaway Island, New Orleans – Main potter’s field for New Orleans from 1847 to the 1920s. Prone to flooding.
- Potter’s Field, Los Angeles – Established in 1877. Over 250,000 burials when it closed in 1923.
- Lincoln Park, Chicago – The City Cemetery was repurposed as Lincoln Park in the 1860s. Many graves were relocated to other potter’s fields.
- Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Boston – Founded in 1831 outside the city limits. Set a model for garden cemeteries.
Modern Potter’s Fields
By the early 1900s, city-run potter’s fields began to disappear. Private cemeteries and funerary businesses took over burials of the indigent dead. However, some public burial grounds still operated into the late 1900s. And a few still exist today, serving the poor, homeless, unclaimed, or unidentified deceased.
For example, New York City’s Hart Island potter’s field remains actively used today. Administered by the city’s Department of Correction, Hart Island is the largest tax-funded cemetery in the world. Over 1 million people have been buried there since 1869.
Most modern potter’s fields do not use mass burial trenches as Hart Island does. Single burials are more common, even if grave markers are minimal. Record keeping has also improved.
Many cities and counties provide basic burials for those who cannot afford it. Often, cremation is offered instead of full-body burial. Graves are dug and covered quickly, with minimal services.
So while the old unsanitary, unregulated potter’s fields are largely gone, the need for simple public burials remains. Modern potter’s fields have improved, but their mission is the same – dignified burials for those who would otherwise go unremembered.
Current Public Burial Grounds for Indigent Dead
Here are some of the larger, currently active public cemeteries used for indigent burials in major U.S. cities:
| City | Public Cemetery Name |
|---|---|
| New York, NY | Hart Island |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles County Cemetery |
| Chicago, IL | Homewood Memorial Gardens |
| Houston, TX | Houston Cemetery |
| Philadelphia, PA | Potter’s Field |
| Phoenix, AZ | White Tanks Cemetery |
| San Antonio, TX | Sacred Heart Cemetery |
| San Diego, CA | Mount Hope Cemetery |
| Dallas, TX | Potter’s Field |
| San Jose, CA | Santa Clara County Public Cemetery |
This table provides a sampling of major city-run or public cemeteries that provide burials for the indigent population. Most large municipalities have similar public burial grounds, though some are not specifically designated as potter’s fields anymore.
Key Facts About Modern Potter’s Fields
- Still provide burials for the poor, homeless, unclaimed or unidentified dead
- Operated by city/county governments or private contractors
- Minimal grave markers like concrete blocks or small metal plaques
- Graves often cleared after a set number of years if unclaimed
- No monuments or individual family plots
- Typically allow minimal graveside services only
- Cremation is a common option
- Maintained better than old potter’s fields but often lack resources
- Names and records kept of those buried
- Graves no longer reused like old potter’s fields
- Total burials number in the hundreds of thousands in larger cities
While the conditions of potter’s fields have greatly improved over their long history, modern public cemeteries for the poor still lack the memorialization of private cemeteries. However, the local governments operating them today do try to maintain dignity and properly honor the dead within their budget constraints.
Conclusion
Potter’s fields have served an important societal function since colonial times in providing burial places for the poor and forgotten. While the term “potter’s field” is rarely used anymore, public cemeteries for indigent burials continue to exist in most major cities.
The improve public perception and treatment of indigent burials since the late 1800s has removed the stigma from potter’s fields. Record keeping ensures identities are not lost. Minimum standards enforced by city and state regulations guarantee a basic level of decorum and respect.
So while potter’s fields in their original crude incarnation have largely disappeared, the ongoing need for public burial grounds remains. The service they provide balancing dignity, practicality, and cost continues the purpose of potter’s fields, even without the name.
Public cemeteries for the less fortunate dead may not offer the grand monuments and memorials of private cemeteries. But they provide the same fundamental human dignity of a respected burial for those who otherwise would have none.