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Bookstamp of the Associates of Dr. Bray Library
Dublin Core
Title
Bookstamp of the Associates of Dr. Bray Library
Subject
Associates of Dr. Bray (Organization)
Description
This is the bookstamp of the Associates of the Late Rev. Dr. Bray (est. 1723). Dr. Thomas Bray (1656-1730) was an English reverend who created a system of parochial libraries in many of the thirteen American colonies.
He was educated at All Souls' College of Oxford, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1678 (he later received his Bachelor's of Divinity and Doctorate of Divinity at Oxford as well). Bray was ordained to the Church of England, and his success as a cleric was recognized by Bishop Compton of London, who in 1696 selected Bray to be commissary of the Province of Maryland. As commissary, Bray was to oversee the religious organization of the province, but his work there was delayed due to legal matters.
While Bray remained in England, he recruited other clergymen to work in Maryland, but only succeeded in enlisting poor clerics. Bray was concerned because these men could not afford to purchase books and build libraries, which would be important for their own education as well as in teaching the ways of the Anglican Church to others. Consequently, Bray made it his mission to establish parochial libraries in Maryland and the other colonies. He dedicated the rest of his life to this work.
In 1723, Dr. Bray became very ill and created “Dr. Bray's Associates” (known after his death as the “Associates of the Late Rev. Dr. Bray”). He selected a number of individuals to assist him in his mission of establishing libraries and promoting the education and conversion of Native Americans and particularly blacks.
The first all-black school was opened in 1758 in Philadelphia with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. This school was so successful that others were opened in New York City, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Newport, Rhode Island. The schools were all closed down by 1775 since revolutionary activities hindered their operation. One more school was successfully established by the Associates in Philadelphia after the war (1786) called the “Negro Charity School.” It is estimated that 2,000-3,000 blacks, out of a population of 500,000, were converted by the Associates.
The mission presented many challenges, including difficulty in finding teachers, laws against the education of blacks, and opposition from slave owners and pro-slave constituents. The Associates continued to operate throughout most of the 19th century, focusing on the parochial libraries. They recorded their activities in annual reports entitled “An Account of the Designs of the Associates of the Late Dr. Bray.”
He was educated at All Souls' College of Oxford, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1678 (he later received his Bachelor's of Divinity and Doctorate of Divinity at Oxford as well). Bray was ordained to the Church of England, and his success as a cleric was recognized by Bishop Compton of London, who in 1696 selected Bray to be commissary of the Province of Maryland. As commissary, Bray was to oversee the religious organization of the province, but his work there was delayed due to legal matters.
While Bray remained in England, he recruited other clergymen to work in Maryland, but only succeeded in enlisting poor clerics. Bray was concerned because these men could not afford to purchase books and build libraries, which would be important for their own education as well as in teaching the ways of the Anglican Church to others. Consequently, Bray made it his mission to establish parochial libraries in Maryland and the other colonies. He dedicated the rest of his life to this work.
In 1723, Dr. Bray became very ill and created “Dr. Bray's Associates” (known after his death as the “Associates of the Late Rev. Dr. Bray”). He selected a number of individuals to assist him in his mission of establishing libraries and promoting the education and conversion of Native Americans and particularly blacks.
The first all-black school was opened in 1758 in Philadelphia with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. This school was so successful that others were opened in New York City, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Newport, Rhode Island. The schools were all closed down by 1775 since revolutionary activities hindered their operation. One more school was successfully established by the Associates in Philadelphia after the war (1786) called the “Negro Charity School.” It is estimated that 2,000-3,000 blacks, out of a population of 500,000, were converted by the Associates.
The mission presented many challenges, including difficulty in finding teachers, laws against the education of blacks, and opposition from slave owners and pro-slave constituents. The Associates continued to operate throughout most of the 19th century, focusing on the parochial libraries. They recorded their activities in annual reports entitled “An Account of the Designs of the Associates of the Late Dr. Bray.”
Creator
Associates of Dr. Bray (Organization)
Source
Rights
Digital Image: Washington University in Saint Louis
Format
Ink
Language
English
Type
Bookstamp
Identifier
bri_stp_kotzerotsarleshon_libraryofdrbraysassociates_0582.jpg
bri_stp_kotzerotsarleshon_libraryofdrbraysassociates_0582.jpg
bri_stp_kotzerotsarleshon_libraryofdrbraysassociates_0582.jpg
cat:Brisman-2013-08-25T09_27_35
Citation
Associates of Dr. Bray (Organization), “Bookstamp of the Associates of Dr. Bray Library,” WUSTL Digital Gateway Image Collections & Exhibitions, accessed April 24, 2024, http://omeka.wustl.edu/omeka/items/show/6985.
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