Thanks so much for your question. We do not have the records of the State Anatomical Board, a possible source for answers, and I do not know where those records reside or if they still survive. It would be worthwhile to ask our reference archives desk your question about death records here at the LVA. The e-mail address is archdesk@lva.virginia.gov You should also ask your entire question of MCV. A logical starting place would be the Special Collections and Archives, Tompkins-McCaw Library, Virginia Commonwealth University. The general e-mail address there is libtmlsca@vcu.edu Best of luck in your search and thanks for reading the blog!

-Dale Dulaney
Archival Assistant
The Library of Virginia

I found your article tonight and could not sleep without atleast trying to ask about my family member.

My GGrandmother, died in Pulaski Co., VA. in abt 1907. It was passed down through the family that her husband, against his family’s wishes, donated her body to science in Richmond. I’ve never located a death record for her, through the State or County, and there are no burial records for her. Is it possible that the Medical College of Virginia or the Library of Virginia kept a record of her death or any record of my GGrandfather donating her body for science? By the way, my father also donated his body to science at MCV at his death in 1983. Would there be a record of him?

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to ask my queston. I just never thought of contacting MCV.

My GGrandmother was, Nancy Jane Dobbins Dickerson, died abt Jan 1907, in Pulaski Co., VA. My Father was James Jesse Brown, died 14 Oct 1983 in Richmond VA.

Best Regard,
Jessie Clarkson in Oklahoma