Williamsburg Bray School Opens as Museum of Black Education

The newly opened Williamsburg Bray School Museum, focusing on Black education.

News Summary

Colonial Williamsburg has announced the opening of the Williamsburg Bray School, a museum dedicated to Black education. Originally operating in the 18th century, the school is recognized as one of the first institutions for Black children’s education in North America. The new museum showcases the school’s historical significance and the artifacts unearthed during archaeological explorations. The project also strengthens the connection between descendants of former students and the site, promoting ongoing discussions about race and education in America.

Colonial Williamsburg has celebrated a significant milestone with the opening of the historic Williamsburg Bray School as a museum dedicated to Black education. The museum, located on the corner of Francis and Nassau Streets, officially opened to the public on Juneteenth, June 19, 2025, marking an important moment in the acknowledgment and preservation of America’s complex history with race and education.

The Williamsburg Bray School operated between 1760 and 1774 and is recognized as one of the earliest institutions dedicated to the education of Black children in North America. Funded by the Anglican missionary group known as the Associates of Dr. Bray, the school primarily served enslaved children aged three to ten, offering them a rare opportunity for education during a time when such access was extremely limited.

Under the leadership of Ann Wager, the school’s widow educator, it’s reported that several hundred students benefited from the school’s teachings during its brief operation. The newly restored Bray School stands as the 89th original building preserved and restored by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, an organization dedicated to showcasing 18th-century life, including the intricate layers of religion and slavery that characterized that era.

The actual location of the Bray School had remained a mystery for centuries until researchers employed dendrochronology in 2020, which confirmed that the Bray-Diggs House on the campus of the College of William & Mary was the original site of the school. Over the years, the building shifted functions and locations, being moved in 1930 to make way for a dormitory and then relocated again in 2023 to enhance public accessibility.

The restoration efforts have focused on recreating the school’s 18th-century aesthetic while navigating the complex interpretive challenges posed by the dual function of the space as a classroom and living quarters. Historians continue to investigate the motives of slave owners who permitted enslaved children to attend the school, despite its teachings of Christian doctrine that ultimately justified the institution of slavery.

Significantly, researchers have identified descendants of the Bray School’s students who contributed to the restoration efforts. While the restoration was underway, these individuals left their signatures on the interior walls of the building, symbolizing a connection to their ancestors.

To further engage the public with this historical site, a variety of programs and events related to the Bray School are planned for 2025 and beyond. This creates an opportunity for ongoing education and reflection on the historical impact of the school and its students.

Archaeological excavations at the site revealed the almost intact foundation of the school, including an undocumented cellar believed to measure 36 feet by 18 feet with potential multiple levels. Discoveries made during these excavations included various artifacts, such as slate pencil fragments, pottery, jewelry, and a glass item depicting the Roman goddess Minerva. These artifacts provide invaluable insights into the daily lives of the students who once attended the school.

Some of the artifacts uncovered will be displayed permanently at Gates Hall, while others are intended for the upcoming Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center, which is expected to open in 2026. The rediscovery and preservation of the Bray School is significant, as it sheds light on the role of Black education in American history, illustrating that, during a time when educational opportunities for Black children were exceedingly rare, the Bray School served as an essential site for both free Black children and enslaved children.

The unveiling of the Bray School’s history comes at a critical time in American discourse, with ongoing conversations about how to effectively teach and remember complex narratives surrounding slavery and race relations in the nation’s past. By establishing the Williamsburg Bray School as a museum, Colonial Williamsburg reinforces its commitment to promoting understanding and dialogue about this pivotal aspect of American history.