Brafferton (building)

Brafferton (building). The Brafferton, located on the campus of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, is one of the oldest academic buildings in the United States. Constructed in 1723 with funds from the estate of English scientist Robert Boyle, it originally served as an Indian school aimed at educating and assimilating Native American boys. Today, the Georgian-style structure is a National Historic Landmark and serves as the official residence of the college's president, symbolizing both a complex colonial legacy and the institution's enduring history.

History

The Brafferton's construction was financed by a bequest from the Royal Society fellow Robert Boyle, whose estate was managed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England. Chartered by King William III and Queen Mary II, the College of William & Mary was tasked with operating the school. The building was completed in 1723 under the supervision of master builder Henry Cary Jr., who also worked on the Wren Building and the Governor's Palace. During the American Revolutionary War, the Brafferton was used as a hospital for wounded French soldiers following the Siege of Yorktown. The building later served various academic functions, including housing the Philosophy department, before becoming the president's residence in the 20th century.

Architecture

The Brafferton is a prime example of early American Georgian architecture, characterized by its symmetrical brick facade, hipped roof, and central chimney. Its design is attributed to Henry Cary Jr., reflecting the architectural traditions of the Virginia Colony. The two-story structure features a distinctive Flemish bond brickwork pattern, a hallmark of skilled 18th-century craftsmanship in the Chesapeake Bay region. Interior elements, such as paneled walls and carved woodwork, have been preserved and restored, with significant work undertaken during the Colonial Williamsburg reconstruction project led by W.A.R. Goodwin and funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr..

Role in Native American education

From its founding until the American Revolution, the Brafferton housed the "Indian School," a program intended to convert and assimilate young Native American men into Anglican society and colonial culture. Students, often taken as hostages or sent by treaty arrangement, came from tribes such as the Catawba, Cherokee, and Nottoway within the Virginia Colony and beyond. The curriculum, overseen by the college's president and masters, included reading, writing, Christian theology, and vocational skills. This assimilationist effort, part of a broader colonial policy, faced resistance and had limited long-term success, with many students returning to their communities. The school's operations ceased when the Boyle annuity was cut off during the Revolutionary War.

Preservation and legacy

The Brafferton was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and is a contributing property to the Williamsburg Historic District. Its preservation is managed in partnership with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. In recent decades, the college has engaged in reconciliation efforts with descendant Native American tribes, including hosting conferences and supporting research into the Indian School's history. The building now serves as the home of the college president, a role it has held since the tenure of Alvin Duke Chandler. It stands as a physical reminder of the college's colonial origins, its role in the complex history of Native American education, and its evolution into a modern university.

See also

* College of William & Mary * Robert Boyle * Wren Building * Colonial Williamsburg * Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England * Native American boarding schools

Category:College of William & Mary Category:National Historic Landmarks in Virginia Category:Buildings and structures in Williamsburg, Virginia Category:Georgian architecture in Virginia Category:1723 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies