Alumni Online Community - Guest Post

Rendezvous with History and Geology

iad@alumni.uwi.edu — Fri, 12 May 2023 21:34:17 +0000

Guest Post by Christina Boyd (CARIMAC Intern)

Recently, as an intern at ̽��ϵ�� Museum, I had the opportunity to assist in cleaning and scanning lantern slides. These photographic slides, a technology that dates to the late 19th century, belong to the Geology Museum (Mona Campus) and are cleaned and scanned for conservation. The collection contained photographic images of mostly landscapes, statues and inscriptions of the Caribbean and Polynesia. Retired Professor Teddy Robinson, who taught in the Geology department from its inception, posited in response to our query that the slides are possibly from the collection of the geologist and lecturer in the department of Geography and Geology, Dr. Chubb. Having the privilege to see and touch artefacts that are tenfold the years you have been alive is holistically awesome. Can you imagine the joy, fascination, excitement and nerves that flooded my body?

Christina going through the process of cleaning the slides

Albeit, the process was slow and meticulous; I was conscious that I was dealing with precious cargo and no amount of money could replace them. Furthermore, damaging any of them is one burden I could not bear. It was fascinating to see the images as I cleaned them, which in turn evoked several questions. How were the images developed in the form of lantern slides? Who thought of this? It reminded me of the film used in minolta cameras, explicit evidence of the evolution of technologies.

A pair of lantern slides that were documented

Scanning the lanterns was even more fascinating, I no longer had to squint or hold the lanterns to a primary source of light to get a clear picture. It was interesting to think that these little pieces of glass had played such an important role in shaping the way people thought about the world around them. The meticulous care and slow pace was worth it to see the images come to life on our computer screen.

Photograph of the 1907 calendar

Perhaps the most exciting part of the experience was when we stumbled upon a sheet from a calendar dated February 1907. Remember that joy, fascination and nerves I mentioned before? At that moment, those emotions went through the roof. The delicacy of this calendar sheet gave me a sense of pride as finding such an artefact was not foreseen. At a closer look, we realised that this calendar was used to jot general descriptions of the lantern slides, presumably by the primary owner.

Photograph of the back of the calendar with the description of the slides

This rendezvous with the past is one that I will always cherish; it served as a reminder of the importance of preserving our past and the significance that historical artefacts hold.

Slide documenting Devil’s Bridge and Indian Town in Indian Town in Antigua, B.W.I

Rendezvous with History and Geology

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WORLD WAR II CAMPS IN JAMAICA???

iad@alumni.uwi.edu — Thu, 04 May 2023 14:45:02 +0000

by Suzanne Francis-Brown

I was fascinated the first time I heard of Gibraltar Camp, a British Colonial Office facility established as a haven for civilian evacuees from the British Mediterranean fortress of Gibraltar, during World War II. Mostly women and children were housed in wooden barracks buildings across acres of former sugar land at Mona, on the outskirts of Kingston. Later, Jewish and other wartime refugees also lived there, on a lower level.

For my PhD thesis, at the UWI Mona, where a few weather-beaten buildings remain, I contextualized Gibraltar Camp in the local time and place, and realized that there were also three other wartime camps – this time for persons of German, Austrian and Italian origin, who had been interned in military camps. Indeed, the third of these internment camps was located at the far northern end of Gibraltar Camp.

All these strands now inform World War II Camps in Jamaica: Evacuees, Refugees, Internees, Prisoners of War, which has been published by the UWI Press and which is being launched on the anniversary of V-E Day, the end of the war in Europe on May 8, 1945. I also ponder the absence of this story from Jamaica’s history and heritage.

Join me live via the UWI Museum’s Facebook page for the book launch. If you are interested in getting a copy of the book, it is available for purchase at both UWI Press and Amazon via this link: https://www.uwipress.com/9789766409258/world-war-ii-camps-in-jamaica/.

WORLD WAR II CAMPS IN JAMAICA???

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Surviving COVID-19: Reflections

iad@alumni.uwi.edu — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 20:24:23 +0000

Julian Cresser

Shani Roper and Julian Cresser walking towards FHE documenting Campus reopening September 2022

When Dr Shani Roper explained to me her idea for a UWI Museum project and exhibition on Surviving Covid-19 and asked me to be one of the photographers, I was happy to say yes – and not just because it was a great concept – but for the purely personal reason that it had been so long since I had taken up my cameras and shot anything and I was glad for the stimulus. There were many reasons that I hadn’t been shooting: life and work had gotten busy; my friends who I shot with had gotten busy; other reasons I may not even be sure of. But here now was opportunity and motivation.

It is somewhat ironic that it was a pandemic – a time of isolating and shutting down – that provided such a chance. The direct source of my freedom to accept Dr Roper’s offer was that I was by then working remotely and thus had flexibility with my time (if my old boss is reading this, please ignore). And so, while the photographic journey of Surviving Covid-19 constantly reminded of the dangers of the virus as we traversed deserted campus vistas, it also provided a break and a moment to contemplate new possibilities.

Mary Seacole Hall May 2020

I think this paradox is reflected in my favourite photograph from my contribution to Surviving Covid-19: a shot of the inside of a dorm room on Mary Seacole Hall. The room appears a bit dark and gloomy, but also brightened from sunlight seeping in through the windows. There are the bluish walls and yellowish furniture: in colour theory these colours harmoniously complement each other because they are directly opposite on the colour wheel. Does the photograph show a room that had been abandoned – or one that is at rest, awaiting something, or someone, new? I think it does both.

Empty Dorm Room, Mary Seacole Hall, May 2020

My takeaway with is that a break was needed, but not for the sake of returning to the way things were – to the ways that led us to be broken down in the first place. And for this reason, there was perhaps some disappointment in the second half of the exhibition’s photographic journey: shooting the campus when students and staff had returned on site. Despite some pandemic legacies like facemasks and sanitizing stations, it seemed that we had spent two years creating ‘new-normals’ (I can’t believe I’m using that phrase – apologies) only to return to old ones. And if this is indeed the case, the opportunity has been wasted (I say while trying to avoid the contemptuous side-eye of my now again dust-covered cameras … ).

Surviving COVID-19: Reflections

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Cataloguing Rex’s Collection

iad@alumni.uwi.edu — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:09:06 +0000

By Lashawndla Bailey-Miller

It is not every day that one gets to be surrounded by the rich history and heritage of a prestigious institution such as the University of the West ̽��ϵ�� (UWI), so I will consider myself lucky. My course of study dictates that I spend a total of twenty days at a heritage institution, and yes, you guessed right; those twenty days are being spent at the UWI Museum. The space is to me what a candy store is to a child, being able to not only view the artefacts but interact with them. One of my tasks included cataloguing items gifted to the museum either by prominent figures or their foundation, and each piece taught me something about its previous owner, be it their academic or personal achievements, travel or community.

Order of the Caribbean Community – awarded 2008

One of the most impressive collections I engaged was that of Rex Nettleford. Flipping through his diplomatic passport, scrutinizing his European railway pass, exploring his numerous coins and medals, made me think this man has truly lived. Among the donations were two rubber stamps that forever immortalized his signature as well as his lapel pins and some business cards he collected over the years.

Spending days handling objects that reflected elements of his everyday life imbued a sense of pride and purpose knowing that these items were accessible through the UWI Museum. This space has created an archive for future generations to learn about a man who contributed greatly to Jamaican culture (especially through dance) to the University of the West ̽��ϵ�� and Caribbean at large.

Cataloguing Rex’s Collection

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The UWI on Jamaica’s Independence: What has Changed?

iad@alumni.uwi.edu — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 22:19:59 +0000

By Adrian Reid

Courtesy of JIS

On Saturday, August 6, 2022, Jamaica celebrated 60 years of independence, and as we reflect on our country’s achievements since independence, we seek to balance the gains with the evident gaps. In a sharp critique, Attorney-at-Law Gordon Robinson argued that ” Jamaica’s greatest national achievement in 60 years of independence has been to survive”(Robinson, 2022). He said that a higher level of achievement would require more education and opportunity, readily available healthcare, welfare, accountability, governance and real democracy. Robinson’s points are not new – a point made frustratingly clear when we dive into the archive. From before Independence dawned, young intellectuals at the UWI have sought to highlight areas for attention if Jamaica was to succeed.

In an article published in the 1961-1962 Pelican Annual Magazine, then UWI students, G. Bullen and R. Fletcher examined the strengths and weaknesses of sectors like agriculture, tourism, and housing and public utilities, and made recommendations for their successful development. Economic issues identified included Jamaica’s impractical reliance on product imports for which we produced and exported raw materials; 95% of economic control belonging to 14% of the population; and the instability of revenue from sugar exports. Other socio-economic concerns were high unemployment and societal inequalities due to wage gaps. In order to address these pitfalls Bullen and Fletcher proposed distributing incentives to encourage agricultural development to ensure food security and provide employment, develop domestic tourism, and reclaim majority ownership of marketable industries like bauxite. The discussions highlighted hopes of achieving equal distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities, high standards of living, and national ownership and control of the economy. Attaining these objectives was regarded as a key indicator of the country’s development.

Today these issues remain: we are heavily dependent on imports to keep our population fed, and even more of our industries are owned by external parties. Our roads and other infrastructure have improved, but are now owned by a “maze of foreign-owned companies” (Robinson, 2022). There is greater access to opportunities, welfare, healthcare, education, and other essential resources, but 60 years after independence, many Jamaicans strongly agree with Robinson’s assessment that we are in a state of survival. Although we have come a long way, it is clear that Bullen and Fletcher’s recommendations for independence have not been adequately implemented. We, the people, often criticize the government for the country’s deficiencies, but it is time to reconsider our stance. Our nation is our responsibility. All Jamaicans must play their part “so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship, and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race” (Sherlock, 1962).

References

Bullen, G. R. E, and R. D. Fletcher. “Literary: From Colonialism to Independence: Some Economic Considerations,” In The UWI Pelican Annual, ed. Frank Knight, 78-89. The Herald Ltd., 1962.

“Jamaica – Celebrating 60 Years of Independence”, Jamaica Information Services, July 15, 2022. https://jis.gov.jm/information/get-the-facts/jamaica-celebrating-60-years-of-independence/

Robinson, Gordon. “Jamaica is still alive…in spite of it all.” Jamaica Gleaner, August 6, 2022. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/focus/20220807/gordon-robinson-jamaica-still-alive-spite-it-all.

Sherlock, Hugh. “Jamaica National Pledge,” 1962.

The UWI on Jamaica’s Independence: What has Changed?

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A Reflection on Hall Life at the UWI, Mona

iad@alumni.uwi.edu — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:00:00 +0000

By Adrian Reid

As part of the Master of Arts Heritage Studies programme at the UWI Mona, Department of History and Archaeology, students are required to complete a month’s internship at a heritage/cultural institution. My chosen institution was the UWI Museum. Working on a cataloguing project has allowed me the privilege of reading early editions of the The Pelican, which is a series of UWI Campus magazines dating back to the 1950s. Stories from The Pelican feature early life on campus especially as it relates to events reflecting hall spirit and the creation of unique hall cultures.

Starting during orientation, students are introduced and immersed in hall culture, where many of them unlock hidden skills. These early editions showcased personalities excelling in sports, drama, dance, among other talents whilst highlighting the friendly rivalry that existed between the halls. This Collection of historic texts has allowed me to reflect on my own experience while living on hall, and compare it to that of my predecessors.

My first impressions of the campus and the centrality of hall life to the undergraduate were formed during a high school visit to Research Day on the Mona Campus. Since then, I believe that the residential experience adds tremendous value to student’s university tenure, and offers many options for their holistic development, and exposure to global cultures.

Historical events such as personality pageants, sporting activities, poetry and plays have evolved into cultural showcases such as Culturama, Club Fusion, Inter-Hall Sports and other hall activities that highlight students’ skills, and also the different countries represented at the UWI. The Pelican (April 1955, Vol II, No. 7) spoke to one of the major showcases of hall cultural exploration, the hall dinner, where a historic dinner was held for the opening of Chancellor Hall, attended by our very first Chancellor, Princess Alice, after whom the hall was named. While there have been a few changes (see article “Dining on Hall”), the tradition of hall dinners has continued to this day, and is a grand event themed to highlight the culture of persons who attend the UWI, showcasing the hall’s achievements for the year, followed by a culinary spectacle.

Due to the significant increase in student population, increasing costs and the limited availability of on-campus housing, many students commute and as a consequence miss out on fully experiencing the enriching campus culture. Although all students are attached to a hall of residence, and commuting students are allowed to participate in hall activities and gain some level of hall experience, it is not the same as living on hall.

Getting involved in campus activities at the UWI, and living on hall for at least a semester, opens up a world of possibilities for students’ holistic development and can help them to better understand people of diverse cultures.

A Reflection on Hall Life at the UWI, Mona

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