The multi-year research, development, and construction process for the Burying Ground Memorial involved the efforts of many: individuals whose ancestors were once enslaved on and around the land that became the university’s campus in the 1910s; university researchers who documented in detail the history of enslavement on the land that became the university’s campus, recovering the location of the Burying Ground and, where possible, the names and details of the lives of those enslaved by the land’s owners; the Burying Ground Memorialization Committee appointed by then-President Ronald A. Crutcher and which led an extensive consultative process to develop a memorial concept; many individuals who engaged in the planning; and those who developed and executed the final memorial design.
The university initiated this memorialization effort in 2020 after research conducted by Shelby M. Driskill detailed the history of enslavement by pre-emancipation owners of land tracts that constitute the present campus, compiled and uncovered primary documents describing the Burying Ground and disturbances to the site during multiple early-to-mid-twentieth century campus development and construction projects, and determined the location of the Burying Ground in partnership with Douglas Broome. The Presidential Commission on Institutional History and Identity, appointed by then-President Ronald A. Crutcher, recommended further study of the Burying Ground. As part of the university’s Inclusive History Project led by Dr. Lauranett L. Lee, Driskill continued archival research and produced the report “Knowledge of This Cannot be Hidden”: A Report on the Westham Burying Ground, released in December 2019. In releasing the report, the University acknowledged and expressed regret for its role in the desecrations of graves during campus development in the first half of the 20th century.
In January 2020, President Crutcher announced the formation of the Burying Ground Memorialization Committee, comprising faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni and Trustee representatives, and several advisors from the university community. As a consultant to the committee, Brenda Dabney Nichols, local historian, educator, and author of African Americans of Henrico County, drew on her genealogical research and the names of enslaved individuals Driskill located to seek present-day descendants of those enslaved by the former owners of the campus and on the surrounding land. Mrs. Nichols, herself a descendant, hosted gatherings at the Burying Ground to share the history of the site and develop the descendent community, who helped to guide the memorial design.
The committee met with descendants, hosted community conversations, and supported ongoing research before presenting a final report of recommendations to President Kevin F. Hallock in 2021. The university also undertook Ground Penetrating Radar studies to determine as precisely as possible the location of gravesites and to help ensure that memorial work did not further disturb graves. The university retained Burt Pinnock of Baskervill, a Richmond-based design firm, to develop initial concepts for the memorial and then to finalize a memorial design. Work on the memorial began in March 2024. During the memorial construction process, an archaeologist was on site to monitor any earthmoving work.
Descendant Families
Representing innumerable individuals whose ancestors were enslaved on
this land, members of the following descendant families have helped to
guide the creation of this memorial:
Bradford
Burleigh (Burley)
Burrell
Carter
Fleming-Parrish
Holmes (Homes)
Leecost (Lecost)
Lewis
Overton
Pryor (Prior)
Warden (Worden)
Committees & Contributing Staff
Burying Ground Memorialization Committee
- Edward L. Ayers, Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and President Emeritus; Co-Chair
- Keith W. “Mac” McIntosh, Vice President for Information Services and Chief Information Officer; Co-Chair
- Ann Lloyd Breeden, Vice President and Secretary
- Mark A. Detterick, Former Senior Associate Vice President for Campus Operations
- Julian M. Hayter, Professor of Leadership Studies
- Jean Hines, Former Director of Strategic Sourcing and Payments
- Amy Howard, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement
- Susan M. Humphreville, B’76, Trustee
- Rasheeda Fleming Perry, ’03, President-elect, University of Richmond Alumni Association Board of Directors; Past President, University of Richmond Black Alumni Network
- Jamelle S. Wilson, Dean, School of Professional and Continuing Studies
- Kay Johnson, ’21
- Anthony J. “AJ” Polcari, ’21
- Kavon Thompson, ’23
- Simone Reid, ’23
Advisors to the Committee
- Elizabeth Baughan, Associate Professor of Classics and Archaeology
- Shelby M. Driskill, Researcher and report author
- Craig T. Kocher, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life, University Chaplain, and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Chaplaincy
- Lauranett L. Lee, Former Director, University of Richmond Inclusive History Project
- Samantha M. Seeley, Associate Professor of History
- Nathan L. Taylor, Executive Director, Virginia Baptist Historical Society
Consultant to the Committee
- Brenda Dabney Nichols, Descendent and Author, African Americans of Henrico County
Staff to the Committee
- Melody K. Wilson, Assistant to the Vice President for Information Services
Community Engagement Consultants to the Committee
- Gwen Corley Creighton, Corley Creighton Associates, LLC
- Patte G. Koval, Virginia Funders Network
Designers
- Burt Pinnock, Baskervill
- Ryan David, Baskervill
- Sonny Joy-Hogg, Baskervill
- Anca Lipan, Baskervill
- Jill Nolte, Waterstreet Studio
Archeologists
- Paul Martin
- Tim Roberts
- Additionally, Derek Miller provided ongoing archaeological insights.
Construction
- Team Henry (Devon Henry, Patrick Lindsey, Brian Thompson)
- Quarra Stone Company
- Tekitonics
Explore the Memorial
The memorial is open daily from dawn until dusk. Get directions, parking information, and additional details to plan your visit.
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