Early 20th Century Black Williamsburg
View looking east on Duke of Gloucester Street towards Samuel Harris' Cheap Store located at the corner of Botetourt and Duke of Gloucester Streets, Williamsburg, Virginia, circa 1900
Elizabeth Coleman Photograph Collection, AV2009.56
Courtesy: Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The Local Black Histories Project is researching Black life in early 20th century Williamsburg, as well as the relocation of Black homes and businesses during the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. This project aims to bring to life the map below, which was created based on the recollections of Mrs. Lydia F. Gardner for the 300th anniversary of Williamsburg in 1999. If you have recollections, photos, or other documents related to people or places on the map that you would like to contribute, please contact us at localblackhistories@gmail.com, or reach out to any member of the Community Advisory Board.
Zoom in to explore Black businesses and residences.
Map-Pre-Restoration Williamsburg-Lydia Gardner.pdfCourtesy: City of Williamsburg
The Local Black Histories Project is a collaborative community endeavor. We invite the community to contribute oral histories, news clippings, photographs, and other documents related to Early 20th Century Black Williamsburg to the online archive using the Upload Documents form.