Collections : [College of William and Mary]

Michael Druitt is an associate professor of Biological Sciences at Hampton University and identifies as a descendant community member for the Williamsburg Bray School. Michael discusses his family history and his ties to the descendant community for the Williamsburg Bray School. Michael reflects on the importance of education for the black community and the legacy of the Bray School in his family's history. Michael Druitt explains the importance of the Bray School legacy for himself and the black community, and the importance of learning about the history of those who forged a path for others to follow.

Stephanie is a resident of James City County and a member of the Williamsburg Bray School Descendant Community. Stephanie learned about the Williamsburg Bray School and moved back to Williamsburg from New York to explore the history and legacy of the school. Stephanie attended James City County schools as a young child before moving to New York. Stephanie Dunmore is exploring her roots and researching the connection between Dunmore's Proclamation of 1765 and her deceased husband's surname.

Latricia Cooke Eason is a member of the Williamsburg Bray School descendant community and a family researcher currently working on a book about her research. Latricia describes her experience growing up in the Williamsburg area and her current efforts to record her family's histories. She reflects on the work that William & Mary and Colonial Williamsburg are doing to tell a fuller story of the experience of African Americans in the Tidewater area. Latricia explains why black history is important and why we need to keep telling the stories of those who have gone before us and sacrificed for their descendants.

Dawn Edmiston is a professor of Marketing at William & Mary and a Strategic Cultural Partnerships Faculty Fellow. Dawn describes her journey to William & Mary and her desire to work with Strategic Cultural Partnerships to advance the story of the Williamsburg Bray School. Dawn discusses how her marketing program to leverage William & Mary's assets to benefit programs like the Williamsburg Bray School.

Rex Ellis is the former Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) at the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to this position, Dr. Ellis was the first African American Vice President for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where he managed all programs and operations. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Masters in Fine Arts from Wayne State University, a Masters of Divinity from Virginia Union University, and an Ed.D from the College of William and Mary. He is the author of two books, Beneath the Blazing Sun: Stories from the African American Journey, and With a Banjo on My Knee, which chronicles the history of black banjo players from the time of slavery to the present. Dr. Ellis describes his youth and growing up in the Tidewater area of VA and his path to becoming a director at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, followed by the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He gives his insight into the importance of telling the story of the contributions of African Americans. Dr. Rex Ellis discusses the first educated Africans at William & Mary, menservants who accompanied their masters and later taught eachother the rudiments of education.

Eliza Fernandez is a recent graduate of William & Mary and an oral history intern with the CHiP 2024 summer internship. Eliza discusses her experience learning oral history methodology with the William & Mary Bray School Lab and how her experience at William & Mary has shaped her future. Eliza discusses her experiences attending Descendants Day at both James Monroe's Highland and Stratford Hall with members of the descendant community.

Cliff Fleet is the President & CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and an alumni of William & Mary. He headed Philip Morris before retiring to lead the foundation in its motto "that the future may learn from the past." He was born in Charlottesville, Virginia and attended William & Mary where he received his master's degree and is also a faculty member. Cliff Fleet describes the genesis of the Williamsburg Bray School Initiative, a project that involved both the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and William & Mary. Once the building determined to the Williamsburg Bray School was identified, he convened the initiative where William & Mary would do the research and Colonial Williamsburg would engage in the restoration of the building. He also discusses the engagement with the descendant community that was imperative for the success of the project. He discusses the future of the Bray School and the African Baptist Meeting House on Nassau Street. President Cliff Fleet discusses the Bray School Initiative, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the "power of place" in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Dennis Gardner is a long-time resident of Williamsburg and a member of the Williamsburg Bray School descendant community. Dennis discusses the history of the Ashby family and his thoughts on the rediscovery of the Williamsburg Bray School. Dennis explains the importance of the Williamsburg Bray School to the community and to the descendants.

Jack Gary is the Executive Director of Archaeology for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Jack Gary details his path to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, his experience prior to his current role, and the different projects he has worked on with the Foundation, including the African Baptist Meetinghouse and the Williamsburg Bray School. Jack details the day he found intact burials at the site of the first Baptist Church on Nassau Street in Colonial Williamsburg, and his efforts to contact the descendant community first when the discovery was made.

Johnette Gordon-Weaver is a Williamsburg native and a Williamsburg Bray School descendant community member. Johnette is active with the Reservation, the Village Initiative and other groups that aim to restore the history and legacy of Williamsburg's black residents. Johnette Gordon-Weaver discusses her family's history that goes back to 17th century Virginia. She also discusses her ties to the Reservation community and reflects on her involvement with the Williamsburg Bray School, her essay contribution to the book written by the William & Mary Bray School Lab and her thoughts on the opening of the Bray site in Fall 2024.