VCU discussing next steps with remains found in 1994, public meeting held on Saturday

“The remains, believed to be largely of African descent, were discovered in an abandoned 19th century well.”

May 12, 2015; 10:18 AM • by Richard Hayes

Update #1 — May 12, 2015; 10:17 AM

VCU Press Release:

Virginia Commonwealth University leaders and the East Marshall Street Well Project Planning Committee will hold the third of four community consultations as part of the continued study, memorialization and reburial of human remains uncovered 20 years ago during construction on VCU’s MCV campus. The remains, believed to be largely of African descent, were discovered in an abandoned 19th-century well.

The third session of “Community Consultations on the Well: A Series of Learning and Feedback Sessions” will take place on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Martin Luther King Middle School gymnasium, 1000 Mosby St., Richmond. An additional session will be held May 30.

The third community consultation will focus on how forensic science has allowed researchers to discover more about the people whose remains were found in the well. An educational session will be given by Michael L. Blakey, Ph.D., national endowment for the humanities professor at the College of William and Mary, and Tal Simmons, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Forensic Science in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

The third consultation will also include discussion about the formation of a Family Representation Council to make further recommendations about the memorialization and reburial of the remains.

Audience members will also divide into smaller groups to hold more detailed discussions. The community consultation will include a continental breakfast and culturally appropriate entertainment.

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Original — April 08, 2015

In 1994 during construction of the Kontos building on East Marshall Street a well was discovered. In that well were 19th Century artifacts and human remains. It is most likely that these remains were illegally obtained medical cadavers and unaccounted for by the community.

In 2013 VCU formed a the East Marshall Street Well Project Planning Committee to memorialize those found in the well. The planning committee is now bringing that discussion into the public forum with a set of four meetings with the first being held on Saturday, April 18th.

Full Press Release:

Virginia Commonwealth University leaders and the East Marshall Street Well Project Planning Committee will hold the first of four “community consultations” as part of the continued study, memorialization and reburial of human remains uncovered 20 years ago during construction on VCU’s MCV campus. The remains, believed to be largely of African descent, were discovered in an abandoned 19th century well.

The first session of “Community Consultations on the Well: A Series of Learning and Feedback Sessions” will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Martin Luther King Middle School gymnasium, 1000 Mosby St., Richmond. Additional sessions will be held May 2, May 16 and May 30.

The first community consultation will help to frame the conversation about how to move forward and will include presentations from Jodi Koste, archivist and head of special collections at VCU’s Tompkins-McCaw Library; Quincy Birdsong, associate vice president for health sciences strategic initiatives and engagement at VCU; and Joanna Wilson Green, archaeologist with Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Audience members will also divide into smaller groups to hold more detailed discussions. The community consultation will include a continental breakfast and culturally appropriate entertainment.

The planning committee, consisting of community and university members, was established in 2013 to select an appropriate decision-making body to help determine the best way to study, memorialize and rebury the remains.

More information about the East Marshall Street Well Project is available at emsw.vcu.edu. Visit http://www.cvent.com/d/ mrqq5f/4W to register for the first community consultation or for more information, contact Stephen E. Davenport at davenportse3@vcu.edu.

Original RTD Article from 1994.

Image: Special Collections and Archives Tompkins-McCaw Library, Virginia Commonwealth University