Explore the imaginative and interpretive aspects of the essay that inspired Almost Unknown, The Afric-American Picture Gallery exhibition in this four-module virtual course with guest curator Jonathan Michael Square.
“The Afric-American Picture Gallery” was written in 1859 by free black journalist and educator William J. Wilson. The exhibition, on view May 3, 2025–January 4, 2026, takes visitors on a tour of Wilson’s imagined gallery of drawings, paintings, sculptures, and objects representing Black life in the United States and across the Diaspora, as interpreted by Square.
Over the course of four modules, participants will:
- summarize Wilson’s prose in the context of 19th-century culture and contemporary literature;
- explore the curatorial process of selecting collections objects for Winterthur’s exhibition through discussion and behind-the-scenes images;
- choose to: a) share your understanding of a select reading from the provided bibliography, or b) describe an object you would have included in the exhibition;
- create and contribute to a diverse learning experience.
June 4: Explore “The Afric-American Picture Gallery” essay
June 11: Investigate the curatorial process of the exhibition
June 18: Engage in a student-led discussion guided by Jonathan Michael Square
June 25: Present final thoughts and wrap-up session
Jonathan Michael Square, Ph.D., is the guest curator of Almost Unknown: The Afric-American Picture Gallery. He is assistant professor of Black Visual Culture at Parsons School of Design and a writer, historian, and curator of Afro-Diasporic fashion and visual culture.
Classes will take place on Zoom. Limited to 15 students. Students are encouraged to take part in all four modules. Access to the module recordings, suggested bibliography, and study guide included.
Registration in the virtual course includes attendance at the symposium Almost Unknown: The Afric-American Picture Gallery, November 14–15, 2025, at Winterthur. The symposium will explore broader approaches to how William J. Wilson’s essay can be integrated into American history and how it connects to the legacy of Henry Francis du Pont and the history of Winterthur. It is designed for a diverse audience of professionals, scholars, and enthusiasts of African American history and the wider Wilmington community.
$100 per participant. Scholarships available. Please contact Stephenie Bailey, manager of continuing education, with questions.
Registration opens on March 3, 2025.