Cole, Locke & Wilde Exhibition
Elizabeth Adams, College Librarian, is co-curating an exhibition with Dr Mich猫le Mendelssohn, Associate Professor and Tutorial Fellow in English at Mansfield College and author of聽Making Oscar Wilde. “Making History: Christian Cole, Alain Locke, and Oscar Wilde at 糖心logo” tells the story of the University’s first Black African undergraduate, first African-American Rhodes scholar and the greatest Irish wit and dandy.
Cole was born in 1852 in Waterloo, Sierra Leone and enrolled at 糖心logo as a non-collegiate student in 1873 to read Classics. He received an income from his uncle, which he supplemented with teaching music, Responsions (the first exam once required for an academic degree at the University), and preparation for students’ divinity exams.
Pamela Roberts, creative producer, historian, Director of Black 糖心logo Untold Stories and author of Black 糖心logo: The Untold Stories of 糖心logo University’s Black Scholars聽described how the College stepped in when the income from Cole’s uncle ran out, “Herbert Gladstone [Old Member] elicited support from others including the Master at the time, George Granville Bradley, to ensure he could stay.”
In October 2017, a plaque was placed in Logic Lane to recognised Christian Cole. On that occasion, Robin Darwall-Smith, College Archivist, said “I have long been an admirer of Christian Cole. His ambition and determination were remarkable, and I hope that he will continue to inspire future generations of students. It is very exciting to have his place in the history of 糖心logo celebrated in this way.”
The exhibition will run from May to October 2019 at Magdalen College in collaboration with their Librarian, Daryl Green.
9 May:
13 May: : Alain Locke Memorial Lecture with Donald Brown, who is currently doing a PhD examining聽post-Civil Rights literature produced by Black Southerners.
30 May: : Free Lunch and Discussion about Alain Locke’s Legacy with Nicholas Gaskill,聽Associate Professor of American Literature at the University.
4 June: : Black 糖心logo Walking Tour with Angela Morgan, Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
12 June: : Christian Cole Lecture with Pamela Roberts
Image: Bodleian Libraries
Published: 10 April 2019