| Author | John W. I. Lee |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Biography, archaeology, African American history |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Publication date | 2022 |
| Pages | 418 |
| ISBN | 978-0-19-757899-5 |
The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert is a biography by John W. I. Lee, published in 2022 by Oxford University Press.[1] The book chronicles the life and achievements of John Wesley Gilbert, an African American scholar who is known for his legacy and contributions to archaeology and education during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[2][3]
Background
editSummary
editThe biography covers Gilbert's life from his birth in 1863 in Georgia during the final years of American slavery to his death in 1923. It highlights his educational journey, his pioneering work in archaeology, and his roles as a teacher, community leader, and missionary.
Gilbert was born into slavery but rose to prominence in the post-Reconstruction era. He was one of the first students at the Paine Institute (now Paine College) in Augusta, Georgia, a rare collaboration between the Black Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the white Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Gilbert later attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he excelled in classical languages and earned his B.A. He continued his studies at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) in Greece, where he conducted significant research and earned an advanced degree from Brown in 1891.
Upon returning to the United States, Gilbert became the first Black faculty member at Paine College, teaching Greek, Latin, and other subjects. His work at ASCSA placed him at the forefront of archaeological research in Greece. Despite his academic achievements, Gilbert shifted his focus to education, ministry, and missionary work. He undertook a significant missionary expedition to the Belgian Congo in 1911-1912 and remained an influential figure at Paine College until his death.
Legacy
editGilbert's contributions to archaeology and education were groundbreaking, particularly as an African American in a predominantly white field. His life story sheds light on the broader context of African American intellectual history and the intersection of classical studies and Christianity in the Black intellectual tradition.
Reviews
editRicardo O. Howell, in the Journal of Southern History, praised the book for reconnecting Gilbert with his era and highlighting his roles as a scholar, teacher, and community leader.[4]
Andrew Bell from Oberlin College lauded Lee for documenting Gilbert's life comprehensively and reflecting on the challenges of writing histories about individuals with limited archival materials.[5]
References
edit- ^ Lee, John W. I. (2022). The first Black archaeologist: a life of John Wesley Gilbert. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-757899-5.
- ^ rjustice (2023-05-10). ""The Extraordinary Life of John Wesley Gilbert, the First Black Archaeologist." - Dr. John Lee". Studies of Black History at the University of San Diego. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Macquire, Kelly. "The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert with John Lee". www.worldhistory.org. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Howell, Ricardo O. (2023). "The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert by John W. I. Lee (review)". Journal of Southern History. 89 (4): 763–764. doi:10.1353/soh.2023.a909881. ISSN 2325-6893.
- ^ Bell, Andrew (April 2024). "Excavating Archaeology's Diverse Past - John W. I. Lee The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert. New York: Oxford University Press, 2022. xxviii + 418 pp. $38.00 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0-1975-7899-5". The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. 23 (2): 254–256. doi:10.1017/S1537781424000021. ISSN 1537-7814.