Who's Really in Raf's Tomb?

The following is video from our stay inside the tomb of Constantine Rafinesque.

As far as we know this is the first recorded video footage from inside the crypt.

Two nights ago myself, Chris Mooney, Chris Hamby and Noel McKay were lucky enough to win the annual drawing which decides who gets to spend the night in the tomb of Constantine Samuel Rafinesque. Raf was a professor at Transylvania University from 1819 to 1826. He was a well known Botanist and made significant contributions to the field.

In 1826, he was fired by President of the University Horace Holley. Some people claim that it was because he spent so much time traveling and so little time in the classroom. Others claim that it was because he had an affair with the President's wife. Regardless, Raf said, I took lodgings in town and carried there all my effects, thus leaving the College with curses on it and Holley..." Seven years after being fired, President Holley died of yellow fever thus fueling rumors of the curse.

In the early 1900's Rafinesque was dug up and his remains brought back to Transy. It is unclear where they were kept but they ended up in the tomb he now resides in. The concrete slab that sits on top of the area that encases his body puts the date at 1919.

It is said that every seven years the curse comes back to haunt Transy. Some times it is worse than others. Basically ever single bad thing that now happens at the school is attributed to Raf's curse.

The following is the inscription on his tomb:

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS OVERDUE
CONSTANTINE S RAFINESQUE
NATURALIST AND PHILANTHROPIST
BORN CONSTANTINOPLE 1783
DIED PHILADELPHIA SEPT 18, 1840

TO DO GOOD TO MANKIND HAS
OFTEN BEEN AN UNGRATEFUL TASK

THE WORKS OF GOD TO STUDY
AND EXPLAIN
IS HAPPY TOIL AND NOT TO
LIVE IN VAIN

THIS TABLET PLACED HERE
SEPTEMBER 1919

An interesting side note is that buried next to him is Prof. S. Bonfils. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about this person.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Transylvania
• University
• Rafinesque
• Tomb
• Raf
• Week
• Halloween

[nikkib117]

Hey guys! We are doing a story on Raf's tomb for LEX 18 News as part of Mystery Mondays. Want to know if maybe we can interview y'all for it? Email me - nburdine@lex18.com

[Alexkrislov]

Oooolld gag, boys. Rafinesque deserves better. --AK, Class of '75

[bestdrugrep]

Many years ago, we use to get our names drawn from a hat to spend the night in the tomb! I spent the night there as a freshman over 20yrs ago.