Search

David Barr III is an writer, editor, playwright and former historic interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg. He has worked on black history projects including Aberdeen Garden 158, and with Mamie Till on a production for her son Emmett Till. David reflects on his experiences as an actor/interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg and his experience playing Gowan Pamphlet, a young enslaved boy owned by Jane Vobe believed to be educated at the Bray School, who went on to become the first ordained Baptist minister in Virginia and was instrumental in starting the First Baptist Church. David reflects on his time as an interpreter and his experiences with former director Rex Ellis (NMAAHC) and Christy Coleman (Director, Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation). He discusses the importance of the Williamsburg Bray School.

Olivia Blackshire is a student at William & Mary and a Bray School Lab Student Thought Partner, partnering with the lab on research and engagement for the Williamsburg Bray School. Olivia discusses her path to William & Mary and her path to the Bray School Lab, her experiences participating on a conference panel and her research project related to the correspondence between the Bray Associates and the Bray School administrators. Olivia also reflects on the legacy of the Bray School and her thoughts on the rediscovery. William & Mary student Olivia Blackshire discusses her role as a student thought partner with the William & Mary Bray School Lab.

Hannah Bowman is a historic area supervisor with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Hannah discusses her background and her family's love of history. She discusses her experience acting, and explains the importance of storytelling in interpretation. She explains how the story of the Bray School helps us understand the importance of telling a fuller story. Hannah Bowman shares her experience as a storyteller and describes the art of storytelling.

Da-Veia Brown is a video content producer who has previously worked as a historic interpreter with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Da-Veia relates her early years and her journey to become a content producer for Colonial Williamsburg Innovation Studios. In this role, she creates visual content for Colonial Williamsburg many historic assets and sites. Da-Veia relates her experiences as a content creator and reflects on the meaning of the Williamsburg Bray School to the community.

Nicole Brown is the graduate lab assistant for the Williamsburg Bray School. She works with Student Thought Partners to conduct research on the Bray School. Nicole also portrays the Bray school teacher Anne Wager as a Nation Builder at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where she also serves as manager of Core Programming for the foundation. Nicole is a Ph.D. student in William & Mary's American Studies program. Nicole Brown describes her journey to the Williamsburg Bray School and her research that has underpinned the Bray School Lab. She discusses her role as a lab assistant, guiding students at William & Mary who volunteer to work on projects to disseminate the story of the Bray school. She also provides insight into the legacy of the school and will guide the site interpretation for the site when it opens as the 89th original building in Colonial Williamsburg.

Loretta Burwell is a descendant community member and a possible direct descendant of a Bray Student. Loretta is an educator, having taught at several schools and colleges. She taught English literature but focused on black literature and poets. Loretta discusses her joy, pain, and hope on her journey to find her ancestors and her engagement with the William & Mary Bray School Lab. Loretta has done extensive research on her family history and lineage and discusses her journey to the Williamsburg Bray School, and the moment she was contacted by the Bray School Lab 30 years after leaving a card at a library seeking information on her ancestors. Loretta explains her visit to the Williamsburg Bray School and her journey from Atlanta George for Descendants Week, and her visit to Bruton Parish Church to see where her ancestors where baptized in the eighteenth century.

Harold Caldwell is a carpenter historic interpreter for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Harold discusses his experience interpreting African American history first in Foodways and now as a journeyman carpenter. He details the work he is doing in the restoration for the Bray school building in Colonial Williamsburg historic area. Harold shares his thoughts on the rediscovery of the Williamsburg Bray School and what the rediscovery means for the community. He also shares why the work he does is so important.

Janice Canaday is a member of the Canaday and Jones family and a member of the Williamsburg Bray School descendant community. Janice details her family's history and the legacy of the Bray School students for the commuity and abroad. She discusses her many roles at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation where she currently is the African American Community Engagement Manager. Janice discusses how she engages with the community and guests at Colonial Williamsburg to help them understand the significance of the Bray School scholars.