May 28: Soldiers’ Lot

May 28: On this date in 1862, the trustees of Green-Wood Cemetery approved the establishment of a Soldiers’ Lot for the free burial of veterans who died during the Civil War in battle or from disease.

May 27: Susan Elizabeth Rotolo

May 27: “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” record album is released on this date in 1963; its cover is a photograph of Dylan and Susan Elizabeth Rotolo, his girlfriend at the time, who inspired two classic Dylan songs: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and “Tomorrow is a Long Time.” She was cremated at Green-Wood in 2011.

May 23: Lewis Tappan

May 23: Lewis Tappan, abolitionist who became heavily involved with the Amistad case, arranging for John Quincy Adams to represent the Africans, reporting on the case in The Emancipator, arranging for them to be taught English by Yale students, and making arrangements for their return to their native land, was born on this date in 1788.

May 22: David Wesson

May 22: On this date in 1934, David Wesson, a food chemist who in 1899 produced the first commercial all-vegetable shortenings from cottonseeds, died.