Virginia Archaeologists Unearth Mysterious Ruins of America’s Oldest Schoolhouse for Black Children—A Hidden Chapter of History Revealed
So, picture this: a school from the 1760s in Virginia where mostly enslaved kids learned their ABCs… but with a twist—they were also taught to see their enslavement as part of God’s grand design. Sounds like a mind-bender, right? The Williamsburg Bray School wasn’t just any old schoolhouse; it was America’s earliest known school for Black children. Archaeologists recently uncovered its 18th-century foundation and a cellar brimming with artifacts at William & Mary University, peeling back the layers of a complex legacy—where education came wrapped in contradiction. Sure, the curriculum tried to sugarcoat slavery with religion, but these kids gained literacy and a voice, quietly flipping the script where they could. And if you think the story ends there, wait till you hear how the building later housed some of the first women college students in the U.S. Talk about a building with a wild resume! Curious how all these puzzle pieces fit together? Dive into the saga of the Williamsburg Bray School and discover history that teaches us there’s always more beneath the surface. LEARN MORE
The historic Williamsburg Bray School operated from 1760 to 1765 in Virginia and educated mostly enslaved students — encouraging them to accept enslavement as part of God’s plan.
William & MaryArchaeologists found the foundation and cellar of Williamsburg Bray School on the William & Mary campus.
Archaeologists in Virginia have discovered the 18th-century foundation that once held the historic Williamsburg Bray School, the oldest known schoolhouse for Black children in America.
Unearthed at William & Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia, the nearly intact foundation was found atop a cellar that housed many artifacts from the site’s time below a children’s schoolhouse and, later, a college dormitory.
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