Swarthmore College Removes Professor's Name from Building over Native American Grave Excavation

Swarthmore College has removed Spencer Trotter's name from a campus building after an investigation revealed he excavated a Native American burial site and promoted racial hierarchies.

The small liberal arts college outside Philadelphia renamed Trotter Hall to Old Science Hall on a temporary basis while seeking a permanent replacement. It also took Trotter's name off the adjacent lawn.

The college's student newspaper, The Phoenix, reported that the action stems from a review launched more than two years ago. That effort followed a 2022 report on the excavation of a Lenape burial site, which was later returned to Native American custody.

A faculty-chaired task force with students, faculty and staff has reviewed records, surveyed the campus and narrowed name options. It plans to send a final recommendation to college President Val Smith by May 1, 2026, for approval by the Board of Managers.

The building bore Trotter's name since 1937. A college review outlined in a communication from Smith found that the longtime biology professor dug up the Lenape site in 1899, removed human remains and displayed them on campus. The college now deems those actions unethical.

The school has not determined what happened to the remains Trotter displayed, according to The Phoenix.

In an earlier letter to the community, Smith apologized for the history. She said the remains "should never have been removed from their burial site" and called the actions "inexcusable," even if common at the time.

The decision has prompted questions about rewriting history. At a recent town hall, alumni and community members raised concerns that removing the name amounts to revisionism, The Phoenix reported.

Some alumni labeled the move "revisionist," saying it risks undermining the college's commitment to historical inquiry.

Critics argue that retaining Trotter's name would let the college confront its past rather than erase reminders of it. Supporters say the change recognizes harm from the excavation and display of Native American remains.

Task force member and history professor Bob Weinberg countered that reassessing historical figures is part of academia. "You don’t want to erase the past, but you want to acknowledge it… and explain why it’s important that we are changing this," he told The Phoenix.

The task force seeks a replacement name that fits the college's priorities, such as boosting diversity and honoring someone with institutional ties.

"It turns out individuals are really complicated," task force chair Cat Norris told The Phoenix, citing challenges in vetting candidates.

Trotter taught for more than 30 years around 1900 and faced criticism for writings on "scientific racism," including claims that Native Americans underutilized land later farmed by Europeans.

Proposals to name the building for the Lenape people were rejected over fears they would appear performative without further steps, The Phoenix reported.

The college has started a wider review of its collections and human remains handling, including new ethical standards for acquisition and repatriation.

A final decision on the building's name is expected later this year. Fox News Digital sought comment from the school.