Rachel Cook
Elon Cook is a museum activist, public historian and race
womanist. She is program director for the Center for Reconciliation and curator
for its new museum project on the history and legacy of slavery and enslaved
resistance. Cook also serves as humanities consultant for the Robbins House, an
African American historic site in Concord, MA. Other consulting projects
include training historic site staff on interpretation theory and the
development of slavery programs that center black humanity. She is currently teaching
an undergraduate course at RISD on the Rhode Island slave trade and public
memory. A genealogist, Brown University–educated public historian and National
Association for Interpretation–trained workshop developer and instructor, Cook
uses workshops, walking tours and exhibitions developed using feminist,
anti-oppression frameworks to improve the discourse around forgotten or erased
elements of American history. She loves engaging the public with challenging
historical narratives, opening hearts and changing minds one conversation at a
time.
Academic research/areas of interest
- America’s history of slavery and resistance
- The formation of racial ideologies in America
- Blackness
- Womynism/Womanism
- Dissent as a patriotic act
- The experiences of enslaved women
- Public memory
- Black protest movements
- Interpretation of enslaved and free black life by historic sites and museums
Departments
Apparel Design Architecture Ceramics Digital + Media Experimental and Foundation Studies Film / Animation / Video Furniture Design Glass Graduate Studies Graphic Design History of Art + Visual Culture History, Philosophy + the Social Sciences Illustration Industrial Design Interior Architecture Jewelry + Metalsmithing Landscape Architecture Literary Arts + Studies Painting Photography Printmaking Sculpture Teaching + Learning in Art + Design Textiles