The GU272 Project:

The GU272 Legacy

In 1838, Maryland's Jesuit priests sold hundreds of men, women, and children to Southern plantations to raise money for the construction of Georgetown University. Though they faced incredible hardship, most didn't perish. They married and raised children. Today, more than 8,000 of their descendants have been located through genealogical research. Use this site to search for an ancestor and to hear the stories of the descendants.

272 Slaves Were Sold to Save Georgetown [University]. What Does It Owe Their Descendants?

In 1838, the Jesuit priests who ran the country’s top Catholic university needed money to keep it alive. Now comes the task of making amends.

By RACHEL L. SWARNSAPRIL 16, 2016 Continued here 
and here 

Do You Think You Might Have a Connection to the 1838 Slave Sale that Kept Georgetown Afloat?

In fall 1838, 272 men, women and children who belonged to the nation’s most prominent Jesuit priests were sold as slaves to help secure the future of Georgetown University.

Now, genealogists are trying to find out what happened to them, and The New York Times wants to hear from their descendants. If you have researched your family history and have found connections to either these enslaved African-Americans or to the priests who owned and sold them, please let us know by completing the form below.

If you know of someone else with that lineage, we’d like to hear about that, too. Times reporters may follow up with you to learn more about your story.