James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul's College Museum and Archives
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Location
Lawrenceville, Brunswick County, Virginia
Address
100 Athletic Field Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868
Collections
Records, books, photographs, printed materials, and artifacts
Visiting
Contact the museum to confirm current arrangements
The James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul's College Museum and Archives brings together local history, education, and family memory in Lawrenceville, Virginia. Its collection relates to the life of James Solomon Russell, the former Saint Paul’s College, and James Solomon Russell High School. The museum’s stated mission includes preserving these materials and making them accessible to researchers, students, alumni, and the public.[1]
For visitors, this is a place to explore the records and legacy behind an important educational institution in Brunswick County, Virginia. Russell founded Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School in Lawrenceville in 1888; it later became Saint Paul’s College, which closed in 2013. The museum is at 100 Athletic Field Road, but its website does not provide regular public hours, so contact the organization before making a special trip.[2]
Plan a trip to James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul's College Museum and Archives
Why visit?
This museum and archive offers a way to encounter the history of Saint Paul’s through the materials gathered to preserve it: archival records, books, photographs, printed materials, and artifacts. The collection’s focus connects the story of the school with the life and work of its founder, as well as the experiences of students, alumni, and the surrounding community.[3]
It also provides context for a broader history of Black education in Virginia. Russell began a parish school in Lawrenceville in 1883 and established Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School in 1888 to serve African American students in a region where educational opportunities were limited. The museum’s collections are especially relevant for visitors interested in how local institutions, community organizing, and education shaped the Southside.[4]
Start here
Before your visit, contact the museum to ask whether it is open, whether an appointment is needed, and what materials or exhibits are available to view. The museum describes its holdings broadly, but does not publish a current schedule or a visitor guide on its website.[5]
A worthwhile starting point is the connection between Russell’s educational work and Saint Paul’s development. The Library of Virginia’s account of an 1895 fundraising broadside explains the school’s academic and industrial curriculum, and traces its evolution into a college that operated until 2013.[6]
What to see and do
Put the museum’s local story in a wider statewide context by exploring places and histories associated with Black Virginians.
Continue your trip with other museums and interpretive sites around the Commonwealth.
Explore places that help tell the history of civil rights and the pursuit of equality in Virginia.
Use the county as a base for discovering the region’s history, communities, and other local destinations.
History and significance
James Solomon Russell was an Episcopal priest and educator who founded Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School in Lawrenceville in 1888. The institution began amid limited educational opportunities for Black students in the area and developed from a normal and industrial school into a college. It was renamed Saint Paul’s College in 1957 and closed in 2013.[7][8]
The museum and archives were formed to collect and preserve records and objects connected to Russell, the school, and its successor institution. In 2021, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources reported that a National Park Service grant would support oral-history work and documentation of Saint Paul’s history and campus. The department noted that three campus buildings—the Saul Building, Principal’s Residence, and Memorial Chapel—had been listed individually on state and national registers in 1979.[9]
Planning a visit
The museum lists its location as 100 Athletic Field Road, Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868, and gives 434-532-2387 as its telephone number. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 551, Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868.[10]
No regular opening hours or admission details are published on the museum’s website. Call or check the official site before traveling to confirm access, appointment arrangements, and whether the collection or a particular exhibit will be available. Visitor details can change.[11]
Nearby attractions
Brunswick Byways Visitor Center
A local visitor stop for trip-planning information in Brunswick County.
Fort Christanna Historical Site
Explore the remains and history of an early colonial-era fort in Brunswick County.
Lawrenceville
The county seat and the setting for the museum and Saint Paul’s history.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ James Solomon Russell Museum & Saint Paul College, James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ National Park Service Awards Grant to James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum & Archives in Brunswick County, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, August 31, 2021. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James Solomon Russell Museum & Saint Paul College, James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James Solomon Russell (1857–1935), Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Humanities. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James Solomon Russell Museum & Saint Paul College, James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James S. Russell and St. Paul Normal and Industrial Institute, Broadside, 1895, Document Bank of Virginia, Library of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James Solomon Russell (1857–1935), Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Humanities. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James S. Russell and St. Paul Normal and Industrial Institute, Broadside, 1895, Document Bank of Virginia, Library of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ National Park Service Awards Grant to James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum & Archives in Brunswick County, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, August 31, 2021. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James Solomon Russell Museum & Saint Paul College, James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- ↑ James Solomon Russell Museum & Saint Paul College, James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives. Retrieved 2026-10-24.