I know all about that archives business, I know what you are going to study. You shall be opening skulls”. The seamstress spoke with authority as she confidently stretched a tape along a length of cloth on a cutting table. I had vaguely associated the word with old dusty papers until I went to University College, London (UCL) to read for a Master’s degree in Archives Administration and Records Management. I had gone to her shop to alter a dress and in casual conversation let slip my trip to the UK for archival studies.
I never quite forgot the woman’s tomb raider-like definition of archives and in 2012 in celebration of our 33rd year of Independence mounted the Archives on Parade exhibition in Constitution Square to showcase the work of the National Archives and to help the public understand the meaning of the word and how it is related to their lives.
Institutions, governments, individuals, businesses generate mounds of records over their lifetime, most of which ends up in landfills or are incinerated. There are many records in homes, file cabinets or vaults across the island because of their value to the owners. A birth certificate, a wedding picture, a copy of a magazine or newspaper, or even a funeral leaflet, all have their relative value to their owners who may want to preserve them for posterity.
Some records are of historical importance: Registers of births, deaths, marriages, wills and testaments (Civil Status Registers), land registers, court documents, all are very important and must be preserved. Other records are unique and represent true archives, and must be preserved. Individuals, institutions and agencies with documents, papers, photographs, books, pictures, postcards they wish to dispose of should first call the National Archives to appraise them.
The Archives on Parade exhibition aims at sharing with the public general information about the work of the National Archives and the history of their island through pictures, newspaper articles and interactions with the staff of the National Archives. It is also an opportunity for the public to share and to donate to the National Archives records in whatever format. Pictures are donated or are offered for scanning and return.
The exhibition held on Wednesday 28th March 2018 in Constitution Park laid out a pictorial exhibition which focused on old Castries, the fires of 1927 and 1948, the growth of the Town Board and City Council and various pictorial views of Saint Lucia. It also featured the research library, and some of the publications held by the National Archives were highlighted. The services on offer by the genealogical department to the public were explained by staff. Donations were received and pictures were digitized and returned. This year, perhaps because of the loss by fire of the headquarters of the Folk Research Center, and certainly because of the increasing acceptance of the exhibition, there was a marked increase in attendance; a constant flow of viewers, some of whom arrived here by cruise liners. It was gratifying to receive the new President of the Senate, Jeannine Giraudy McIntyre; Dr. Gregor Williams; Kennedy ‘Boots’ Samuels among our many visitors. Mr. Oliver Innocent, long retired senior public official, shared some interesting recollections of his time at the Ministry of Finance with the National Archivist.
The theme of the exhibition—My story, Your story, Our Island’s History— encouraged visitors to revisit their experiences and recollections of Saint Lucia in days of yore. There was a fun aspect to the exhibition where visitors dipped into a box to answer a historical question. Correct answers were rewarded with a token. More and more visitors are becoming aware of the heritage represented by and in the records of all kinds no matter how insignificant they may appear. There seemed to be an appreciation that any record related to the activities, the life of the people is important and should be preserved: personal letters, report cards, funeral leaflets, obituaries, journals painting, art in all forms, memorabilia, music, music manuscripts, academic writings, newspapers, government records etc are all important and should be preserved. The National Archives is a proper repository for all of these.
Over recent times many records of incalculable value have been lost to Saint Lucia resulting from poor storage, lack of care and appreciation of the records or some misunderstood or even real propriety right to them or downright negligence in securing them thus suffering the ravages of mould, vermin, fire and storm. The National Archives is well placed to store and secure the records of heritage bodies taking into account appropriate mutually agreed policies and arrangements for their placement with the National Archives.
We again urge citizens, business entities, government departments and agencies, private or public, and churches to contact or consult with the National Archives before disposing of records of any kind as we are able to advise on their value for preservation or ultimate disposition.
National Archives staff
