The Burying Ground at University of Richmond
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Located on the University of Richmond campus, The Burying Ground has been identified as a place of burial for enslaved people bound to the land’s owners dating to before the Civil War. In response to a 2019 report identifying as such, the University’s Burial Ground Memorialization Committee engaged Baskervill to help in the development of plans for a memorial, including public engagement and design workshops. Following instances of desecration of the burying ground by the University in the early 20th century, the goal of the memorial is to provide a permanent place of recognition, reckoning, and commemoration acknowledging those enslaved. Baskervill conducted multiple sessions with a broad coalition of stakeholders-including descendants of those enslaved-to explore design concepts and gather feedback. A recommendation was provided to the University President in December 2021.