Martin E. Gray Hall

Martin E. Gray Hall was named for a church deacon from Willoughby, Ohio, who donated $25,000 toward its construction. Built in 1899, it was the original dining hall and one of nine buildings designed by New York architect John Hopper Coxhead. In February 1960, 200 Virginia Union students marched from the building to downtown Richmond to stage sit-ins at segregated department stores. The action led to the arrest of the "VUU 34," who were quickly bailed out and celebrated as heroes for initiating the Campaign for Human Dignity that would break the back of racial discrimination in Richmond, Virginia.

Richmond, Virginia · United States