Mysterious Case of Pearl Forcade

In early January 1885 teenage prostitute Pearl Forcade was killed by a drunken manĀ at “Mollie’s Hall” in Lincoln. When her brothers arrived at Wyuka cemetery to claim Pearl’s body, it was gone. Professors at the University of Nebraska medical school, then in Lincoln, were accused of stealing the corpse because the school had a well-known shortage of cadavers.

Although Pearl’s body mysteriously reappeared after a few days, this incident, and other similarly gruesome ones, caused the legislature to cut funding for the medical school, which closed for good in 1887. When the Omaha Medical School aligned itself with the university the state approved money to build an Omaha campus in 1909.

 

Nebraska State Journal, 1-11-1885 p.1

Nebraska State Journal,Ā January 11, 1885 p.1

 

Nebraska State Journal, 1-11-1885 p.8

Nebraska State Journal,Ā January 11, 1885 p.8

 

Louise Pound sketch (RG0912.AM)

Author and folklorist Louise Pound created this sketch between 1889 and 1892, when she was a student at the university, and likely represents the theft of Pearl Forcade’s body. (NSHS RG0912AM)

 

Nebraska State Journal, 12-1-1894

Nebraska State Journal, November 22, 1894

 

Nebraska State Journal, 12-1-1894

Nebraska State Journal, December 1, 1894

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Marker Monday: Kearney Cotton Mill

Marker Monday: Kearney Cotton Mill

No Irish Babies Born in Nebraska in 1912

No Irish Babies Born in Nebraska in 1912

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, First Native American Woman Physician

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, First Native American Woman Physician

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
ļ•Ø
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

ļ”˜
Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraskaā€™s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraskaā€™s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.