Resources

Report on the East Marshall Street Well

A three-part report titled “Artifacts and Commingled Skeletal Remains from a Well on the Medical College of Virginia Campus” is available for download from the Virginia Commonwealth University Scholars Compass, a publishing platform administered by VCU Libraries. Abstracts and links to the full report are below.

*Note: Given the sensitivity of the images, and to demonstrate respect, the images referenced in “Artifacts and Commingled Skeletal Remains from a Well on the Medical College of Virginia Campus: Human Skeletal Remains from Archaeological Site 44HE814” can be accessed by visiting the Special Collections and Archives department at either the Health Sciences Library or the James Branch Cabell Library.


National context

The following scholarly research and resources provide a national context to the East Marshall Street Well Project.

Past Publications

Ancestral Remains moved to VCU
Jan. 7, 2022

EMSW Community Research Update (PDF)
Dec. 29, 2021

VCU building will tell the story of centuries-old human remains found in 1994 at the bottom of a well
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Sep. 28, 2021

VCU unveils panels commemorating 19-century human stays present in nicely
Tidewater News
Sep. 24, 2021

‘This is sacred ground’: Panels commemorate 19th-century human remains found in an MCV Campus well
VCU News
Sep. 23, 2021

VCU unveils panels detailing human remains found in abandoned well
NBC 12
Sep. 14, 2021

Interrogating the Past
Richmond Magazine
Feb. 9, 2020

Remains found in VCU well returned to Richmond after Smithsonian study
Richmond Free Press
Nov. 27, 2019

A Journey Home
VCU News
Nov. 26, 2019

Remains of African Americans found in Marshall Street well return to Richmond 25 years later
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Nov. 25, 2019

Once Used For Medical Research, 19th Century Remains Return To Richmond
VPM (NPR)
Nov. 25, 2019

Human remains found on VCU campus 25 years ago return to Richmond: ‘Welcome home to our ancestors’
WRIC (ABC)
Nov. 25, 2019

Remains of dozens found in the bottom of well returns to VCU: ‘This is a celebration’
WTVR (CBS)
Nov. 25, 2019

VCU honors return of 19th-century human remains found on MCV campus
WWBT (NBC)
Nov. 25, 2019

Restoring Dignity
Richmond Magazine
Apr. 1, 2019

Making It Right
Richmond Magazine
Jun. 14, 2018

Community Makes Progress on East Marshall Street Well Project
WCVE, Community Idea Stations
Jun. 9, 2016

Draft report suggests ways to honor ‘ancestral remains’ from MCV well
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Jun. 7, 2016

A Reckoning
Richmond Magazine
Jun. 5, 2016

Into the light
Richmond Magazine
Sept. 8, 2015

Surrogate ancestors to remains of slaves
WVTF Public Radio
Aug. 7, 2015

Second community discussion today on human remains found on VCU Medical Center campus
Richmond Times-Dispatch
May 1, 2015

Community Process Guiding Future of 19th Century Remains Found at MCV
WCVE, Community Idea Stations
Apr. 30, 2015

Disposition of human remains at VCU topic of discussion
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Apr. 14, 2015

Human bones found in a well at VCU reveal the mixed legacy of race and medical progress
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Feb. 14, 2015

VCU hopes to memorialize MCV human remains
Commonwealth Times
Oct. 16, 2014

Community-campus committee will work to memorialize human remains uncovered in 1990s construction project
VCU News
Sept. 26, 2013

Confronting the story of bones discarded in an old MCV well
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Nov. 11, 2011

Well-preserved find at MCV: Bones give clues to 1800s practices
Richmond Times-Dispatch
May 11, 1994