Reimagining Cole: Christian Frederick Cole, Oxford University’s first Black African scholar

Last year OBV alumni Pamela Roberts and Sir Ivor Crewe, Master of University College, the University of Oxford, unveiled the first Black Oxford Untold Stories plaque at the college to commemorate the significant historical achievements of Christian Frederick Cole, the University of Oxford’s first Black African student 1873, and the first Black African to practise Law in the English High Court, 1884.

However, despite his significant historical, cultural and legal importance, very little imagery of Cole was available. One image of Cole was widely used in the promotion of various media to illustrate the story and Roberts would always append the caveat, ‘This is the only image of Cole’, to any requests for an image of Cole. Every time a press piece was published, the same imagery was always used. Roberts said,

“I cringed, then started to wonder why is this the only image? If this is the only image, who produced it, and for what purpose?”

Roberts progressed from these questions and thought more broadly. She considered fifty years after the introduction of photography in 1839, and Cole’s presence in Oxford - could there be any photographs or a portrait of him? She considered, “Why were Cole’s achievements portrayed in the form of parody when his contemporaries were commemorated through portraits or statues.”

She was also interested in the broader issues of race and representation and how Cole’s image contributed to this reinforcement of stereotypes and had these stereotypes continued to seep into the unconscious biases and collective psyche of the university?

Her initial thoughts, reflections and questions about Cole’s imagery and representation developed into a detailed study. Delving through archives, photographic catalogues of cartoons, caricatures and 19th century portraits to acquaint herself with the imagery of the day, she tried to locate a non-caricature image of a photograph of Cole.

Her research is the foundation for the Re-Imagining Cole symposium, in association with Bodleian Libraries. The symposium will take place on Saturday 20th October at the Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, from 10.00am – 4.00pm.

It will examine the background, context and depictions of previously unseen caricatures of Cole, exploring why Cole and his historic achievements were only portrayed in the form of parodies. It will also examine the broader issues of race and representation in caricatures and portrait art. Finally, the symposium will pose the question, ‘Should Cole’s image be re-imagined, and if so, why?

Roberts said:

I hope that the symposium will provide a broader knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Cole and his achievements.”

The event will include art historians, artists and academic featuring Dr Temi Odumosu (Malmo University), Dr Robin Darwall-Smith (University College, University of Oxford), Robert Taylor (photographer of ‘Portraits 6of Achievement’), Colin Harris (Superintendent of Bodleian Libraries Special Collections) and Pamela Roberts (Founder and Director Black Oxford Untold Stories).

The event has also been supported by the Art Fund and the Social History Society. Tickets for the events £5.00 (£3.00 concession. Students, unwaged) can be booked at:

https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/whats-on/upcoming-events/2018/october/reimagining-cole

Pamela Roberts is a creative producer, historian, author and playwright and Director of Black Oxford Untold Stories. @blackoxford.

OBV Staff Writer