Colored Memorial School and Risley High School
Why it's listed
Three historic school buildings share a corner lot in a residential neighborhood near downtown Brunswick, on the Georgia coast. Colored Memorial School, a two-story red brick Neoclassical building, opened in 1923 and was named for returning African-American World War I veterans. It was the city's first high school for Black children and included the eleventh and twelfth grades. Risley High School followed in 1936, built with Public Works Administration money and designed by Francis L. Abreu in a Stripped Classical style. It took the name of Captain Douglas Gilbert Risley, the Freedmen's Bureau officer who helped secure funds for the first public Black school on the site around 1870. A one-story school with a cafeteria was added in 1944. Together the buildings show the long history of African-American education in Brunswick and retain many original exterior details, including pilasters, large window openings and an original auditorium. Three later buildings, a 1980s media center and two sheds, do not contribute. The campus is still used for schooling.
Significance in brief: The campus was the principal public school complex for Brunswick's African-American students from the early to mid-20th century. It is significant for education and Black ethnic heritage (Criterion A) and for intact Neoclassical and Stripped Classical school architecture (Criterion C). Risley High School was also a New Deal project built with Public Works Administration funds.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02001290, listed November 7, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1800 Albany St., Brunswick |
|---|---|
| County | Glynn County |
| Listed | November 7, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001290 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Francis L. Abreu, Public Works Administration-Architect. Risley High School |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival/Neoclassical Revival; Other/Stripped Classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The buildings continue to be used for educational purposes; the complex functions as the Risley Alternative Learning Center Campus, and Colored Memorial School houses a kindergarten program. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 31.15553, -81.49045 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02001290.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16950098
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.