Buck v. Bell Marker

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Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Buck v. Bell

By Paul A. Lombardo, circa July, 2002

1. Buck v. Bell [Q-28] Marker

Inscription. In 1924, Virginia, like a majority of states then, enacted eugenic sterilization laws. Virginia’s law allowed state institutions to operate on individuals to prevent the conception of what were believed to be “genetically inferior” children. Charlottesville native Carrie Buck (1906–1983), involuntarily committed to a state facility near Lynchburg, was chosen as the first person to be sterilized under the new law. The U.S. Supreme Court, in Buck v. Bell, on 2 May 1927, affirmed the Virginia law. After Buck more than 8,000 other Virginians were sterilized before the most relevant parts of the Act were repealed in 1974. Later evidence eventually showed that Buck and many others had no “hereditary defects.” She is buried south of here.

Erected 2002 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-28.)

Location. 38° 2.202′ N, 78° 29.303′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. Marker is on Preston Avenue (U.S. 250) 0.2 miles south of Grady Avenue (U.S. 250), on the left when traveling north. Click for map. On the grounds of the Region Ten Mental Health Community Service Board. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville VA 22903, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

Buck v. Bell Marker Unveiling 2002 Photo, Click for full size

By Paul A. Lombardo, May 2, 2002

2. Buck v. Bell Marker Unveiling 2002

. C. B. Holt Rock House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jefferson School (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Baptist Church, West Main Street (approx. 0.4 miles away); Roosevelt “Rosey” Brown, Jr. (approx. 0.5 miles away); Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (approx. 0.5 miles away); Sacajawea (approx. 0.5 miles away); Monticello Wine Company (approx. 0.5 miles away); Georgia O’Keeffe (approx. 0.5 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Charlottesville.

More about this marker. This marker was erected on the 75th Anniversary of the Buck v. Bell decision. Virginia governor Mark Warner issued an official state apology for eugenic laws—the first such statement in national history—on that day.

Also see . . .
1. Buck vs. Bell Trial. Background and links relating to the Buck vs. Bell Trial. (Submitted on August 11, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
2. Chronicle: The Trial of Carrie Buck. Information, including video interviews on location, about the Buck Trial. (Submitted on August 11, 2008.)
3. Eugenics: Three Generations, No Imbeciles--Virginia Eugenics and Buck v. Bell. A digital image display on the case of Buck v. Bell from the University of Virginia Health Science Library. (Submitted on August 13, 2008.)

Additional keywords. Eugenics