East Marshall Street Well Project
In April 1994, human bones and artifacts from the 19th century were discovered in an abandoned well uncovered during construction on Virginia Commonwealth University’s MCV Campus. The well’s contents are believed to have been discarded in the 1800s by medical staff.
These humans, mainly of African descent, were not shown the respect they were due, neither in life nor in death. The university is committed to moving forward in a manner reflecting the dignity that should be accorded these individuals and has created the East Marshall Street Well Project to facilitate a process with the community that ensures the remains receive appropriate study, memorialization and reburial.
Resources
This module examines the role of grave robbing and the use of black cadavers in medical education at MCV during the 19th century. The module also provides information about the East Marshall Street Well Project, including the 2019 memorialization ceremony.
Learn more here
Learn more about the East Marshall Street Well Project by Visiting https://emsw.vcu.edu/