Researchers are calling for Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, to be given a Christian burial in his home city of Leicester.
They claim that while he agreed to be exhibited during his life, he "almost certainly" did not want his remains to be displayed after he died.
The Queen Mary University of London intends to keep his skeleton at its medical school.
It claims that Joseph Merrick "expected to be preserved after his death".
'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick 'should be buried in Leicester'
BBC News
9th May 2016
Joseph Merrick's skeleton is kept in a glass cabinet at Queen Mary University of London's medical school
Researchers are calling for Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, to be given a Christian burial in his home city of Leicester.
They claim that while he agreed to be exhibited during his life, he "almost certainly" did not want his remains to be displayed after he died.
The Queen Mary University of London intends to keep his skeleton at its medical school.
It claims that Joseph Merrick "expected to be preserved after his death".
The Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick (5th August 1862 – 11th April 1890), believed his deformities were caused by his mother being frightened by an elephant when she was pregnant
Valerie Howkins, the granddaughter of Tom Norman, one of Mr Merrick's former managers, said the reburial of Richard III in Leicester had made her "doubly anxious" for Mr Merrick to be buried with dignity.
"There was just no question when he died that he would go back to Leicester to be buried," she said.
"It's just so sad that he had his flesh stripped from his bones and has been mounted in a glass cabinet for 120 years against his will.
"He was Christian and would have expected a Christian burial."
Preserved for 'medical education and research'
Joseph Merrick's skeleton is kept in a private room at Queen Mary University of London's medical school
The remains are not on display to the public but can be viewed by appointment, for example by medical students and medical professionals
The skeleton is displayed in a glass cabinet, which the university said is to "allow medical students to view and understand the physical deformities resulting from Joseph Merrick's condition"
A spokesperson for the university said: "It is understood that Joseph Merrick expected to be preserved after his death, with his remains available for medical education and research. As custodians of his remains, the university regularly consults with his descendants over their care."
Jeanette Sitton, who founded the Friends of Joseph Carey Merrick, also wants him to be buried in Leicester.
"As Joseph Merrick was a devout Christian we know for a fact he would have wanted to be laid to rest," she said.
"It's an almost certainty. We know he was a devout Christian and we know he did have a strong faith."
The friends group discovered the unmarked grave of Mr Merrick's mother and siblings in Leicester's Welford Road Cemetery a few years ago and put a plaque there.
However, Ms Sitton said this would not be an appropriate place for Mr Merrick to be buried due to the lack of security.
Ms Howkins said his "warm and loving" relationship with his mother made it even more appropriate for him to return to Leicester.
"He was born in Leicester and he had a wonderful relationship with his mother until he was nearly 11 years old and she died," she said.
"It's not right that his bones should be stuck in a box in a store room."
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has previously backed calls for a memorial to Mr Merrick in Leicester.
At the time he said: "We're not good in Leicester at remembering the important events and people from our past. The story of Joseph Merrick deserves to be told."
Since then, the council has built the Richard III heritage centre and Leicester Cathedral raised £3m for a tomb to the last Plantagenet king.
Richard III's tomb in Leicester Cathedral
'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick 'should be buried in Leicester' - BBC News
They claim that while he agreed to be exhibited during his life, he "almost certainly" did not want his remains to be displayed after he died.
The Queen Mary University of London intends to keep his skeleton at its medical school.
It claims that Joseph Merrick "expected to be preserved after his death".
'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick 'should be buried in Leicester'
BBC News
9th May 2016
Joseph Merrick's skeleton is kept in a glass cabinet at Queen Mary University of London's medical school
Researchers are calling for Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, to be given a Christian burial in his home city of Leicester.
They claim that while he agreed to be exhibited during his life, he "almost certainly" did not want his remains to be displayed after he died.
The Queen Mary University of London intends to keep his skeleton at its medical school.
It claims that Joseph Merrick "expected to be preserved after his death".
The Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick (5th August 1862 – 11th April 1890), believed his deformities were caused by his mother being frightened by an elephant when she was pregnant
Valerie Howkins, the granddaughter of Tom Norman, one of Mr Merrick's former managers, said the reburial of Richard III in Leicester had made her "doubly anxious" for Mr Merrick to be buried with dignity.
"There was just no question when he died that he would go back to Leicester to be buried," she said.
"It's just so sad that he had his flesh stripped from his bones and has been mounted in a glass cabinet for 120 years against his will.
"He was Christian and would have expected a Christian burial."
Preserved for 'medical education and research'
Joseph Merrick's skeleton is kept in a private room at Queen Mary University of London's medical school
The remains are not on display to the public but can be viewed by appointment, for example by medical students and medical professionals
The skeleton is displayed in a glass cabinet, which the university said is to "allow medical students to view and understand the physical deformities resulting from Joseph Merrick's condition"
A spokesperson for the university said: "It is understood that Joseph Merrick expected to be preserved after his death, with his remains available for medical education and research. As custodians of his remains, the university regularly consults with his descendants over their care."
Jeanette Sitton, who founded the Friends of Joseph Carey Merrick, also wants him to be buried in Leicester.
"As Joseph Merrick was a devout Christian we know for a fact he would have wanted to be laid to rest," she said.
"It's an almost certainty. We know he was a devout Christian and we know he did have a strong faith."
The friends group discovered the unmarked grave of Mr Merrick's mother and siblings in Leicester's Welford Road Cemetery a few years ago and put a plaque there.
However, Ms Sitton said this would not be an appropriate place for Mr Merrick to be buried due to the lack of security.
Ms Howkins said his "warm and loving" relationship with his mother made it even more appropriate for him to return to Leicester.
"He was born in Leicester and he had a wonderful relationship with his mother until he was nearly 11 years old and she died," she said.
"It's not right that his bones should be stuck in a box in a store room."
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has previously backed calls for a memorial to Mr Merrick in Leicester.
At the time he said: "We're not good in Leicester at remembering the important events and people from our past. The story of Joseph Merrick deserves to be told."
Since then, the council has built the Richard III heritage centre and Leicester Cathedral raised £3m for a tomb to the last Plantagenet king.
Richard III's tomb in Leicester Cathedral
'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick 'should be buried in Leicester' - BBC News
