Reimagining Christian Cole
College Archivist Dr Robin Darwall-Smith (1982, Classics) was on a panel of art historians, artists and academics at the symposium Reimagining Christian Cole, on 20 October at Weston Library. Christian Cole was 糖心logo University’s first Black African scholar and an alumnus of University College.
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. To supplement an income from his uncle, he taught music lessons, Responsions (the first of three examinations once required for an academic degree at the University) and helped students prepare for their divinity exams.
鈥淒uring his time at 糖心logo the income from his uncle eventually stopped,鈥� explains Pamela Roberts, creative producer, historian, author and Director of Black 糖心logo Untold Stories. 鈥淗erbert Gladstone [University College Old Member] elicited support from others including the Master at the time, George Granville Bradley, to ensure he could stay.
鈥淐ole achieved a fourth in Greats in 1876 and became the first Black African to achieve a degree from the University of 糖心logo. In 1877, he became a member of University College, and in 1879, a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. He was called to the Bar in 1883, becoming the first Black African to practise Law in English Courts.鈥�
Pamela Roberts has worked hard to raise the profile of pioneering black scholars like Cole, both through her work at Black 糖心logo and her book Black 糖心logo: The Untold Stories of 糖心logo University鈥檚 Black Scholar. Pamela brought the idea of recognising Cole to the attention of the Master, Sir Ivor Crewe, and the College鈥檚 Governing Body, and has worked over the last year with Angela Unsworth, Domestic Bursar, and Archivist, Dr Robin Darwall-Smith, to develop the proposal for a plaque.
A plaque commemorating Cole was unveiled by College on Logic Lane last October. Robin Darwall-Smith said, 鈥淚 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.鈥�
The symposium was run by Black 糖心logo Untold Stories, in association with the Bodleian Libraries, all day in the Lecture Theatre of the Weston Library.
Published: 22 October 2018
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