Washington University in St. Louis will eliminate the name of Robert J. Terry, MD, from all university assets, including the Robert J. Terry Lecture Series and the Robert J. Terry Professorship at the School of Medicine. This decision follows an extensive evaluation by the university’s Naming Review Board (NRB) and recommendations unanimously supported by the WashU Board of Trustees.
The evaluation was prompted by a formal request made in the fall of 2024, co-signed by 12 students. This request, subsequently supported by the Washington University Native American Students Association, advocated for the elimination of Terry’s name due to his active promotion of eugenics and his collection of human remains without consent—practices that disproportionately affected African Americans. Terry, who passed away in 1966, held a leadership role in the anatomy department at WashU Medicine.
“This goes beyond merely changing a name,” stated Paul Scott, a senior double majoring in global studies and East Asian languages and cultures, both in Arts & Sciences. Scott played a key role in crafting the submission. “It’s about recognizing the genuine harms that occurred — and that persist when we neglect to confront them — and committing to improve as we move forward.”
Following a thorough and rigorous investigation of historical documents — comprising more than 3,000 pages of archival materials — the NRB concluded that Terry’s actions were fundamentally at odds with the university’s principles of equity, inclusion, and regard for human dignity.
In endorsing the NRB’s recommendations, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin highlighted the necessity of addressing the university’s history with transparency and consideration.
“At WashU, we are dedicated to facing the challenging aspects of our institutional history with honesty, thoroughness, and care,” Martin remarked. “After a comprehensive and thoughtful assessment, we believe it is both necessary and appropriate to remove Robert Terry’s name from university assets. This decision aligns with our fundamental mission to cultivate an inclusive, respectful, and forward-thinking academic community.”
The NRB’s final report, which is accessible in its entirety online, presented two main recommendations: first, to remove the Terry name from all university assets where there are no legal obstacles, while initiating a considered and inclusive renaming process; and second, to create educational initiatives that contextualize the decision and promote deeper involvement with the historical and ethical issues surrounding Terry’s legacy.
Additionally, the university will continue existing efforts to establish and execute a process for the ethical management of the Terry specimen collection, which includes human bones and tissue samples that Terry obtained primarily from local hospitals and institutional morgues in the St. Louis region and were previously utilized for research and teaching.
An opportunity for institutional growth
The initiative to remove Terry’s name from university assets signifies a pivotal moment in WashU’s continual efforts to synchronize its actions and recognitions with its institutional values. The NRB’s endeavors enable the university to engage profoundly with its history, respond thoughtfully to evidence and advocacy, and reaffirm its pledge to nurture a more inclusive and equitable community.
“Our objective was not to erase history, but to address it candidly,” remarked Peter Kastor, the Samuel K. Eddy Professor in history and associate vice dean of research in Arts & Sciences and chair of the NRB. “In assessing the legacy of Robert J. Terry, we aimed to ensure that the university’s named honors mirror our community’s values. Through meticulous research and thoughtful consideration, we sought not only to arrive at a just conclusion, but also to affirm that we must recognize, comprehend, and learn from our past.”
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