ABOUT BLACK OXFORD
Bringing untold histories to life.
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Black Oxford Untold Stories is a research and cultural platform bringing the overlooked Black histories of Oxford to wider audiences.
What began with Pamela Roberts’ research into the University's Black scholars has grown into an evolving body of work that connects historical research with contemporary audiences, creating new ways to discover, experience and engage with Oxford's Black history.
RESEARCH. STORYTELLING. EXPERIENCE.
The Story of Black Oxford
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2013
THE BOOK
Black Oxford: The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholars is published.
The research begins to reach a wider audience.
2017
MAKING HISTORY VISIBLE
Christian Frederick Cole's memorial plaque is unveiled at University College, Oxford.
The research moves from the page into the physical landscape of Oxford.
2019
THE STORIES TAKE CENRE STAGE
Exhibitions, lectures and the Re-Imagining Cole Symposium bring Cole's story and the wider Black Oxford research into new spaces.
2020
HISTORY ON SCREEN
Christian Frederick Cole — The Story of Britain's First Black Barrister premieres at the Old Bailey.
2022
THE BLACK EDWARDIAN
The Adventures of a Black Edwardian Intellectual: James Arthur Harley is published.
2024
BLACK OXFORD ON THE BUS
The research moves onto the streets of Oxford through the Black Oxford Untold Stories Guided Bus & Walking Tour.
2026
THE STORY CONTINUES
A substantially updated and expanded edition of Black Oxford Untold Stories continues the work that began all those years ago.
What started with one question has become a lifelong cultural project.
Who gets remembered?
Whose stories are visible?
And what happens when we change the story?
Black Oxford Today
The work continues to evolve — connecting historical research with new audiences and finding creative ways to bring overlooked stories to life. From the archive to the streets of Oxford, from the page to performance, Black Oxford continues to create opportunities to discover, experience and engage with its untold stories.
EXPLORE BLACK OXFORD →
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF BLACK OXFORD UNTOLD STORIES
Pamela Roberts
Historian. Author. Creative Producer. Cultural Entrepreneur.
For more than two decades, Pamela Roberts has researched, produced and brought overlooked histories and stories to wider audiences.
Her work began with a question: who were the Black scholars who came to Oxford, and why had so many of their stories been left out of the familiar history of the University?
Her research became Black Oxford: The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholars, first published in 2013, and grew into Black Oxford Untold Stories — an evolving cultural platform bringing Black history to life through books, film, talks, performance, exhibitions, tours and live experiences.
Pamela's approach combines rigorous historical research with creative production and public engagement, finding new ways to make history accessible, compelling and relevant to contemporary audiences.
DISCOVER PAMELA'S STORY →
PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS
Black Oxford has worked with universities, museums, cultural organisations and institutions to research, develop
and share Black histories.
OXFORD INSTITUTIONS
University of Oxford | Bodleian Libraries | University College Oxford | St Hugh’s College | Pitt Rivers Museum
CULTURAL & HERITAGE PARTNERS
City Sightseeing Oxford / Oxford Bus Company
PROGRAMME & PROJECT PARTNERS
Landsec / Westgate Oxford| John Lewis & Partners| Arts Council England