C.L. Daniel identified as victim of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Identification through DNA analysis and genealogical research using National Archives records
World War I veteran from Newnan, Georgia killed during massacre
In the summer of 1921, a tragic event unfolded in Tulsa, Oklahoma that left a deep scar on the city's history. The Tulsa Race Massacre claimed the lives of hundreds of Black residents and destroyed their community, known as Greenwood or Black Wall Street. Recently, progress has been made in identifying one of the victims through a meticulous investigation led by the City of Tulsa.
On July 12, 2024, Mayor G.T. Bynum held a press conference to announce the identification of C.L. Daniel as the first victim from the mass graves discovered in Oaklawn Cemetery five years ago.
C.L. Daniel was a World War I U.S Army veteran who had traveled from Newnan, Georgia to Tulsa with plans to return home when he was tragically killed during the race massacre in 1921.
The identification of C.L. Daniel came about through a combination of DNA analysis and genealogical research using records from the National Archives. His remains were exhumed from Oaklawn Cemetery and sent to Intermountain Forensics for analysis, which led to the discovery of his family's connection to him.
The identification of C.L. Daniel marks a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to identify and honor the victims of this tragic event in Tulsa's history.
This is just one story from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. The City of Tulsa continues its investigation to identify other victims and provide them with a proper burial.
The first victim of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre has been identified as CL Daniel from Georgia.
His identification was made using DNA from descendants of his brothers by Intermountain Forensics.
The breakthrough for identifying Daniel came from a 1936 letter from his mother’s attorney seeking veteran’s benefits which provided evidence that he was killed in the massacre.
