In September 2019, Balliol College began to investigate its connections with the proceeds of
slavery as part of a broader project examining the College’s multifaceted relationship to
Empire. Though better known for its role as an educator of colonial administrators in the late
nineteenth century, this project has established that the college has ties with earlier periods of
British colonialism and received benefactions from a number of individuals who derived a
significant proportion of their wealth from slavery.

Chaired by Dame Helen Ghosh, Master of Balliol, this seminar will present the preliminary
results of the study conducted by Dr Sebastian Raj Pender and encourage discussion among
participants on what these findings mean for the College, the University, and society today.