Making History: Christian Cole, Alain Locke and Oscar Wilde at Oxford

making history Oxford poster

Making History: Christian Cole, Alain Locke and Oscar Wilde at Oxford is an exhibition at Magdalen College's Longwall Library and a pan-Oxford event series that will be taking place this summer celebrating the lives of early pioneers of diversity at Oxford. It will focus on Oxford University’s first Black African undergraduate, Christian Cole; the first African-American Rhodes scholar, and midwife to the Harlem Renaissance, Alain Locke; and the great Irish wit and dandy, Oscar Wilde. These three were undergraduates at University, Hertford and Magdalen College, respectively. By drawing these exceptional men together, the exhibition highlights the surprising shared histories of Oxford’s Queer, Black and First Generation undergraduates. By showcasing rare archives, Making History allows the public a unique glimpse at the documents and drawings that bear witness to these remarkable young men’s lives and times.

The exhibition will run from May-October 2019 in the Longwall Library of Magdalen College, Oxford. It can be viewed by Magdalen College members and, for non-Magdalen members, by appointment with library@magd.ox.ac.uk. Curated by Elizabeth Adams (University College, Oxford) and Michèle Mendelssohn (Mansfield College, Oxford) in collaboration with Daryl Green (Magdalen College, Oxford). Based on Making Oscar Wilde by Michèle Mendelssohn.

As part of Making History, the curators have brought together an exciting programme of talks, events, and tours, the details of which can be seen below.

 

Making History: Exhibition Launch

Making History: Christian Cole, Alain Locke and Oscar Wilde at Oxford – Exhibition Launch Party and Salon with Michèle Mendelssohn, Elizabeth Adams, &c.

5.15pm-6.30pm, 9 May 2019, Magdalen College Auditorium

Attendance free, registration required: http://tinyurl.com/makinghistory9May

 

Making History: Alain Locke Memorial Lecture

Making History: Alain Locke Memorial Lecture with Donald Brown (Harvard)

5.00pm-6.30pm, 13 May 2019, Rhodes House

Attendance free, registration required: http://tinyurl.com/makinghistory13May

 

Making History: Lunchtime Discussion

Making History: Free Lunch and Discussion about Alain Locke’s Legacy with Serena Arthur, Oluchi Ezeh, Nicholas Gaskill (Oxford)

12.00pm-1.30pm, 30 May 2019, Hertford College

Attendance free, registration required: http://tinyurl.com/makinghistory30May

 

Making History: Black Oxford Walking Tour

Making History: Black Oxford Pioneers and Trailblazers walking tour with Blue Badge guide Angela Morgan

12pm-2pm & 5pm-7pm, 4 June 2019, starting at Magdalen College

Attendance free, registration required: http://tinyurl.com/makinghistory4June

 

Making History: Christian Cole Lecture

Making History: Christian Cole Lecture with Pamela Roberts, FRSA

6.00pm-7.00pm, 12 June, University College

Attendance free, registration required: http://tinyurl.com/makinghistory12June

 

Making History: Oscar Wilde Lecture

Lecture by Merlin Holland (Oscar Wilde’s grandson)

5.00pm-6.30pm, 19 October, Magdalen College

Registration for event not yet open