To Restore People's Names

Panel 01 — Introduction

To Restore People's Names

The groundbreaking work of Dr. Amy Larner Giroux at St. Augustine National Cemetery has reshaped how we understand and commemorate the lives of those buried there. As a genealogist and digital historian, Dr. Giroux combines archival research, digital tools, and fieldwork to recover the identities of individuals long considered "unknown."

At the heart of this project is a commitment to restoring names and stories to those lost to time: Union soldiers from the Civil War misidentified as Indian War casualties, soldiers of the Second Seminole War whose numbers and identities were misunderstood, and Native American prisoners who were buried without recognition.

This exhibit examines how cemeteries are not just places of rest, but landscapes of memory, history, and justice. Each panel explores a different facet of this work, from Civil War soldiers to Native American prisoners, and from archival discoveries to public commemoration. Together, they tell a story of recovery, remembrance, and the power of historical research.

Panel 02 — Civil War

Lost, but not Forgotten:
Civil War Soldiers Recovered

This research is not just about correcting the record but restoring names and dignity.

During the Civil War, Union soldiers stationed in St. Augustine faced military threats, disease, and harsh conditions. Many died young and were buried in the local military cemetery. Over time, their wooden grave markers deteriorated in Florida's humid climate, and their names were lost. Later, their graves were mistakenly labeled as casualties of the Indian Wars.

Dr. Amy Larner Giroux's research has corrected this historical error. Using forensic image analysis of a stereograph showing the cemetery in the 1860s, she identified legible names on headboards and matched them to archival records. She then traced regimental histories, military post returns, and burial records to reconstruct the identities of 108 Union soldiers who died in St. Augustine. Her work revealed that many of these men were from New Hampshire regiments and had died of disease while stationed in Florida.

Dr. Giroux has connected these soldiers to over 260 family members through genealogical research. Through this work, the lives of young men like Franklin and William Taylor, brothers who died at 17 and 19, are no longer anonymous.

Panel 03 — Second Seminole War

Second Seminole War:
Untangling the Numbers

Historical memory can be shaped by assumptions and misinterpretations. Rigorous historical analysis can recover and preserve legacies.

The Second Seminole War (1835–1842) left a lasting imprint on Florida's military history. At St. Augustine National Cemetery, three coquina pyramids commemorate soldiers who died during the conflict. A sign claims that 1,468 men are buried within them, but Dr. Giroux's research uncovered a different story.

Using archival documents, newspaper accounts, and military correspondence, Dr. Giroux traced the origins of the pyramids and the men interred within. She discovered that the pyramids were built in 1842, and a record book created two years later listed the names of those who died in the war, not necessarily those buried in the pyramids. After years of searching, she located the original record book in the National Archives, misfiled due to a labeling error.

Her analysis revealed that only about 140 individuals are actually buried in the pyramids. These include members of Dade's command, disinterred from battlefield graves, and others honored for bravery. Many officers listed on the monument were buried elsewhere, including West Point and Jefferson Barracks. Dr. Giroux's work corrects the inflated burial count and clarifies who is truly memorialized in the pyramids.

This research highlights how historical memory can be shaped by assumptions and misinterpretations. By returning to primary sources and applying rigorous analysis, Dr. Giroux has helped ensure that the legacy of those who served in the Second Seminole War is accurately preserved.

Panel 04 — Native American Prisoners

Restoring Native American Identities

Dr. Giroux recovered the names of nine previously unknown Native Americans who were incarcerated in St. Augustine.

In 1875, 72 Native American prisoners, leaders from Plains tribes, were forcibly relocated to Fort Marion (now Castillo de San Marcos) in St. Augustine. Their imprisonment was part of the U.S. Army's strategy during the Red River War to suppress resistance and enforce reservation policies. Nine of these men died during their captivity and were buried in St. Augustine National Cemetery, their graves marked only as "six unknown Indians."

Dr. Giroux's research has brought their identities back to light. Through archival work in the National Archives, the Beinecke Library at Yale, and the Peabody Museum at Harvard, she uncovered correspondence, death records, and oral histories that identified the deceased. Her collaboration with tribal representatives from the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo nations has been central to this work.

This partnership has led to public ceremonies, educational materials, and plans for interpretive signage at the cemetery. Rather than replacing headstones, the tribes have chosen to "retell" the story, honoring their ancestors while acknowledging the historical context. Dr. Giroux's work has also helped descendants, including UCF students, reconnect with their heritage.

This project shows the resilience of these Native communities and the importance of restoring names and stories to those erased by history. This research is a testament to how public history can serve both truth and healing.

In light of this research, the cemetery is scheduled to add new interpretive signage that honors all the Native prisoners held there, and list the nine who are buried in the cemetery by name, tribe, and date of death.

Panel 05 — Methods

Mapping Memory:
Digital Humanities in Action

Interdisciplinary methods enhance public history, making cemeteries not just places of mourning, but dynamic sites of research, education, and remembrance.

Dr. Giroux's work exemplifies the power of digital humanities to transform historical research. As a digital historian for the National Cemetery Administration, she pioneered methods for digitizing cemetery landscapes. Using GPS transponders, drones, and LiDAR scanners, she created detailed maps of St. Augustine National Cemetery, capturing the spatial relationships between monuments and graves.

One of her most innovative and interdisciplinary projects involved a stereographic photograph of the cemetery. With help from UCF computer science students, she used image forensics to measure distances and reconstruct burial locations. This allowed her to place temporary headboards at the exact spots where Union soldiers were buried, restoring their presence in the landscape.

Her approach reaches across departments and colleges, combining history, engineering, computer science, anthropology, and genealogy. From drone mapping to archival digitization, Dr. Giroux's work shows that technology is not just a tool but a core part of how historians ask new questions and tell deeper stories.

Panel 06 — Public History

Public History:
Connecting Past and Present

At the core of Dr. Giroux's work is a simple but profound goal: restoring people's names. As a certified genealogist, she has traced the lives of over 100 U.S. Army soldiers and dozens of Native American prisoners, connecting them to hundreds of descendants. Her research is not just about the past, but also about how history impacts the living.

Through collaboration with Native tribes, public educators, and the National Cemetery Administration, Dr. Giroux's work has led to new forms of commemoration. Interpretive signage, educational tours, and classroom materials now tell the stories of those once considered "unknown." Her research, which reaches across disciplines and departments, has inspired students, like those in UCF's computer science program, to engage with history in meaningful ways.

If you are interested in getting involved in research like this, consider one of the History Department's many internships available to undergraduate students. If you want to continue your studies, UCF's History M.A. program and Texts & Technology Ph.D. program both offer concentrations in Public History and compelling opportunities to dive into interdisciplinary research.

A Story Worth Telling

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