5 Names Added to a Memorial to Enslaved Workers at UVA

The University of Virginia’s Memorial to Enslaved Laborers acknowledges and honors an estimated 4,000 people who built and worked at the university. It was designed by Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president.

The names that were added were Davy Hern, Fanny Gillette Hern, Bonnycastle Hern, Lily Hern and Ben Snowden. The name of a sixth family member, Thirmston Hern, is already part of the memorial.

All six were related to an enslaved family at Monticello and to Charlottesville native Myra Anderson.

“I grew up in Charlottesville — all of my life and in school we never heard about slavery at UVa,” Anderson said.

The enslaved workers dug foundations, fetched water and wood and cleaned and performed daily chores for students and professors, according to the memorial. These workers also included skilled laborers in cooking, brick making and blacksmithing.