Significant Archaeological Discovery at William & Mary

News Summary

Archaeologists at the College of William & Mary have uncovered the nearly intact foundation of the Williamsburg Bray School, an 18th-century institution that educated both free and enslaved Black children. As renovations continue on Gates Hall, the site has revealed an undocumented cellar and various artifacts dating back to the 18th century. This initiative highlights the university’s dedication to understanding and sharing its historical role in promoting the education of Black individuals. A museum is set to open in 2025 to educate the public about this significant historical context.

Williamsburg, Virginia – Archaeologists have made a significant discovery on the campus of William & Mary, unearthing the near-complete foundation of the Williamsburg Bray School, an 18th-century institution that educated free and enslaved Black children. The excavation, conducted during renovations of Gates Hall, also revealed a previously undocumented cellar measuring 36 feet by 18 feet with two distinct levels, believed to have been established shortly after the building’s foundation was laid.

The Williamsburg Bray School operated from 1760 to 1774, providing education to hundreds of Black children, predominantly aged between 3 and 10 years. Under the guidance of head teacher Ann Wager, the school delivered a faith-based curriculum aimed at both free and enslaved students. The founding body of the Bray School was the “Associates of Dr. Bray,” an Anglican missionary organization established with the intent of promoting the acceptance of slavery among enslaved children.

The building itself underwent several transformations following its original function as a school. After closing in the late 18th century, the Bray School was repurposed as a private residence and later became part of the William & Mary campus, where it housed Methodist women from 1924 to 1930. In 1930, to accommodate the construction of Brown Hall, the original structure was relocated, paving the way for its current iteration as Robert M. Gates Hall.

During the excavation, archaeologists uncovered numerous artifacts spanning from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. These included handmade ceramics known as colonoware, slate pencil fragments, pieces of jewelry, a wig curler, and various pottery shards. Among the notable finds was a shard of glass depicting Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. This artifact may have belonged to female students who were personalizing their living spaces.

To commemorate this educational venture, the schoolhouse is set to open to the public as a museum on Juneteenth, June 19, 2025. The museum aims to educate visitors about the lives of the students and the socio-historical context of the time. Artifacts unearthed from the site will be exhibited at Gates Hall following its renovations, while some items are slated to be transferred to Colonial Williamsburg for future display at the forthcoming archaeology center.

The ongoing excavation and research efforts are being conducted by William & Mary’s Center for Archaeological Research. This initiative underscores the university’s dedication to understanding its historical role in local and national narratives, particularly concerning the education and experiences of Black individuals during a pivotal time in American history.

The discoveries at the Bray School site not only aim to enhance public knowledge of Black education in the context of slavery but also contribute to the broader understanding of the complex social dynamics in colonial America. As the project unfolds, it promises to shed light on the educational opportunities for Black children during a time when such prospects were limited, thus enriching the cultural history of Williamsburg and beyond.

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Additional Resources

• Coastal Virginia Magazine: Discovering the Bray School
• Popular Mechanics: Historic Black School Discovery
• Washington Post: Williamsburg Bray School Discovery
• Smithsonian Magazine: Archaeologists Unearth Artifacts
• New York Times: Bray School Virginia Juneteenth
• Wikipedia: Bray School
• Google Search: Bray School Williamsburg history
• Google Scholar: Bray School Williamsburg education
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Williamsburg
• Google News: Bray School archaeological discovery