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Research

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Resources

 

Research on enslaved individuals, free Black laborers, and their families has been a long-term research endeavor at the University of Virginia and has involved faculty, staff, students, and community members. Historic sites in Virginia have also lead the charge to research and document this history. Links below lead to resources compiled over the years and are meant to assist with genealogical research. 

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Genealogical Research

Conducted in partnership with UVA

Genealogist Dr. Shelley Murphy was hired by the University of Virginia in 2019 to find descendants of UVA's enslaved laborers following construction of UVA's Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. There is space for 4000 names on the Memorial, and researchers at UVA continue to discover new names of enslaved people who were enslaved by professors, hotel keepers, and others associated with the University of Virginia. 

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This research is foundational for establishing our descendants community.

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Partial List of Surnames of Enslaved and Free Laborers at UVA and Descendant Family Locations (current research)

Albemarle/ Charlottesville

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Barbour/Barber

Briggs

Broadus

Brown

Coles

Commodore

Crobsy

Dickerson/Dickinson

Green

Heiskell

Henderson

Hern/Hearn

Maupin

Michie

Price

Salmom/Sammons

Smith

Southall

Strange

Tucker

Watson

Cumberland County

Skipwith

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Fluvanna County

Brown

Skipwith

Harris

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Greene County

Chapman

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Halifax County

Boxley

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Louisa County

Boxley

Brown

Dickerson/Dickinson

Harris

Jackson

Nunn

Price

Sandridge

Watson

Orange County

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Barbour/Barber

French

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Unknown Locations

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Bibb

Childress

Douglass

Ganat

Johnson

Kemper

Meriwether

Mosby

Oliver

Patterson

Perrow

Prentis

Roberts

Simpson

Spooner

Taylor

Timberlake

Wade

African American Genealogical Resources
courtesy of Dr. Shelley Murphy

Membership

We are committed to finding and connecting with descendants of enslaved communities and free Black laborers associated with with the University of Virginia. If you believe you have African American ancestors who were associated with UVA, please follow the link to learn more or get help with your genealogical research.

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