Jamaica

Home | Collections

Cadastral Map Collection

ABSTRACT


The Cadastral Map Collection contains approximately 20,000 maps and plans, situated in Special Collections and are essential for researchers wishing to study the history of settlement, land tenure, land-use and regional settlement patterns in Jamaica. The collection contains maps of Jamaica, both of rural and urban settlements and plans which portray the internal layout of large agricultural units. The persons who drew these maps and plans were surveyors and as such persons wishing to study the development and history of colonial surveying and map and plan-making will likewise find the Cadastral Map Collection invaluable. Estate plans for example, were drawn for a number of reasons, including accompaniments of patents, deeds, wills, boundary disputes, settlement and debtor hearings, sale and land transfer. Maps often contain the layout of the estates, showing land usage, rivers, mountains and number of settlements. It is noteworthy to observe that maps earlier maps of Jamaica illustrated coastal settlements and the internal parts of the island were either poorly labelled or ignored. Later maps however, noted inland settlements, as well as internal rivers, mountains etc and furthermore were fairly accurate as to labeling.

PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

IDENTITY AND LOCATION

Name of Documentary Heritage: The Cadastral Map Collection 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: West Indies 
Address: The National Library, 12 East Street, Kingston 

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): 
The National Library of Jamaica 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Cadastral Map Collection lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica. 

Accessibility: The Cadastral Map Collection is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics. 

Copyright Status: Due to the age of the documents (some over 300 years old), the collection is in the public domain. 

Responsible Administration: The Cadastral Map Collection is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory: 
The Cadastral Map Collection contains approximately 20,000 items, most of which are in manuscript. While some of the maps illustrate the overall layout of Jamaica, most are plantation maps and plans. The maps and plans depict landholdings, both rural and urban. There are some that go further to note the internal structure of pens, plantations and estates. Of maps and plans depicting the internal layout of agricultural holdings, the collection has approximately 1000. Oftentimes, in the case of sugar estates, the plans and maps note the acreage under canes, the sugar works, the accommodation of the enslaved, their provision grounds and the great house. Maps and plans of coffee estates and pens are much the same; the former may lack the works and the latter may have acreage in grass and enclosed areas for cattle. The remainder of the estate maps and plans show the boundaries of each property. Some of the maps are in black and white, others are coloured in with ink or water colour paints and are quite appealing to look at. Most maps give the name of the estate, the owner, the acreage, the scale used and not infrequently, the reason for the map being drawn. Likewise, main divisions and sites on the maps are labelled in the map itself or in a small table below the drawing. 

Bibliographic details: 
The Cadastral Map Collection is arranged geographically by parish and stored in folders in metal map cabinets. Most of the maps have been catalogued and almost half of them are available on a computerised database. In addition, most of the maps are recorded in the card catalogue in the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. 

Visual Documentation: 
Photographs exist of many of the maps as they have been used as illustrations in several books particularly Barry Higman’s Jamaica Surveyed: Plantation Maps and Plans of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Higman’s work however focuses on estate plans and maps that possess their internal layout. A portion of the collection was microfilmed and placed on aperture cards. 

HISTORY

The Cadastral Map Collection contain maps and plans that were prepared by private surveyors and Prof. Barry Higman notes that Jamaican surveyors not infrequently bought up the papers of their fellow practioners and bequeathed ancient collections to their heirs. Between 1876 and 1891 they seem to have been collected by Thomas Harrison, the Surveyor General who made use of them in producing the cadastral maps of the parishes of Jamaica. In the 1940s, the collection was handed over to the Institute of Jamaica and placed in the West India Reference Library. The collection of this library became the property of the National Library when it was established in 1979.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic: 
While the Cadastral Map Collection can be accessed via card catalogue, work is ongoing on listing the collection and placing the information on a database. Online access is provided to this database on site at the National Library. 

Preservation Plan: 
The Cadastral Map Collection is overall fairly well preserved, though there are some that have been torn where they were folded or have decayed along the edges. Many have undergone restorative work. All items have been placed in acid free folders and routine preservation has been done of all of them. Detailed conservation work is being done on fragile and important items. Plans are in place for digitization of these maps as soon as resources are available. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The Cadastral Map Collection is an invaluable source of information for researchers studying the history of land tenure and usage and settlement in Jamaica. Likewise, it gives some information for persons wishing to study early surveying techniques and landscape history. The collection contains maps and plans of some of the largest estates owned by wealthy and powerful families. These families, forming the influential West India Interest lobby group, wielded tremendous control of the British society. An investigation into the source of their strength and power, that is their Jamaican estates, would not be unnecessary. 

Time
The earliest maps and plans in this collection were done in the seventeenth century and continued into the latter half of the nineteenth century. As such, persons are able to trace land tenure and usage over time. Several plans are at times given for the same estate over the course of time and as such persons are able to investigate the transfer of land and use over time. In addition, for persons wishing to study the evolution of the Jamaican landscape in early Jamaica, the Cadastral Map Collection is invaluable. 

Place
The Cadastral Map Collection came into being in Jamaica. However, persons wishing to do a comparative evaluation of the evolution of settlements and land usage over time of the Caribbean and by extension the southern states of North America will find the collection useful. Though the Collection is unique to Jamaica, there are some maps that are of other Caribbean territories. Often these were maps of the colonies, rather than estate plans. 

People
The persons who owned the early estates, plantations and pens were in the main Europeans. However, a minority of pens and coffee estates were owned by free blacks and coloured. The study of the Cadastral Map Collection is therefore the study of these early landowners. After the abolition of slavery in 1838, one can observe on the drawing of some estate plans and maps, portions of estates sold to black small settlers. As a result, the Collection is useful for persons wishing to study the evolution of ownership over time. 

Subject/Theme
The Cadastral Map Collection is useful for persons wishing to study the spatial distribution of settlements, settlement patterns, land ownership, land tenure and usage, history of surveying, and map making. 

Form/Style
Persons wishing to study the surveying techniques, the material used and the format of early maps and plans of former surveyors will find the Cadastral Map Collection a treasure. 

Social Value
The Cadastral Map Collection is a valuable primary source of Jamaica’s social and economic history. The impact of land tenure and usage on the environment is easily detected in the collection. From some of the maps of Jamaica, demographic details can be extricated, including demographic patterns of settlement and numbers. 

Integrity
The Cadastral Map Collection is fairly complete, having been collected by Thomas Harrison, the Surveyor General of Jamaica. However, there are some maps that are in a state of decay, oftentimes resulting from age, having been folded in the middle, and eaten away at the edges. Though the National Library has worked to preserve the Collection, lack of funds are responsible for its piecemeal efforts. In addition, funds are also necessary for the wholesale digitisation of the collection. 

Rarity
Higman in Jamaica Surveyed writes of the Cadastral Map Collection “it is worth emphasising that the number of known plans depicting the internal layout of plantations for the island is far greater than that for any other territory of the Caribbean”. Though Jamaica was colonised by the British later than the Leeward Islands, it is the only former colony that boasts such a large collection of maps. As such, the collection is extremely unique to Jamaica and since the maps and plans of other Caribbean territories have not survived in such vast numbers, one can argue that for persons to do a detailed study of land settlements, etc, the Jamaican Cadastral Map Collection would have to be utilised as a microcosm of a wider, regional settlement and land tenure/usage pattern. 

NOMINATOR

The National Library of Jamaica

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

Though for the most part the Cadastral Map Collection is in good order, there are more than a few that are suffering the risk of decay. The use of acid free folders has reduced the effects. However, due to previous folding of the maps, some tend to rend at the location of the fold while others wear away at the edges. Funds are needed to do a wholesale preservation of the maps and plans and to digitise the collection. 

Top

THE DAWKINS COLLECTION

Owner (Name and contact details):
The National Library of Jamaica 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Dawkins Collections lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica. 

Accessibility: The Dawkins Collection is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics.

Copyright Status: There are no copyright restrictions. 

Responsible Administration: The Dawkins Collections is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory: 
There are 15 volumes in The Dawkins Collection and it is comprised of copy title deeds, plans and accounts of the Dawkins family estates, principally in the parishes of Vere, Clarendon and St. Catherine. In addition to recording all conveyances and patents for land granted to the Dawkins family or acquired by them, the collection contains transcripts of wills and powers of attorneys of many prominent landowners of Jamaica. The latter were included where they relate to the land acquired by the Dawkins family. Platts are included and for each deed, the date of enrolment, liber and folio number are given. Lists of enslaved persons form part of the collection. The list includes the number of mulattoes and quadroons on the estates of Henry Dawkins. 

Bibliographic details:
The Collection is recorded within the card catalogue under two headings- The Dawkins Family, MS181 and Dawkins and Long’s Account Books, MS181A. The former contains thirteen volumes containing copy books of title deeds for the Dawkins Family. The latter consists of two volumes which contain accounts current of the Dawkins with Drake and Long; Longs, Drake and Long; Longs and Dawkins; and Beeston Long successively, all of London, spanning June 1749-June 1812. 

HISTORY

The Dawkins Collection forms part of the history of the economic activities of the Dawkins family in Jamaica, spanning the early days of the Jamaica’s settlement till the early nineteenth century. The collection was meant to be a permanent record of the holdings of the family’s Jamaican lands. The Collection was purchased by the Sugar Manufacturers Association of Jamaica Ltd. and deposited in 1941 in the West India Reference Library , forerunner of the National Library of Jamaica.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic: 
The Dawkins Collection has Manuscript catalogue entries 

Preservation Plan: 
The Special Collections and Conservation Dept. provide patrons with gloves when handling the Dawkins Collection, which is in a rather fragile state, resulting from age decay, though the use of acid free folders have slowed down this decay. In addition, the digitisation of the material has started. However, due to the lack of funds, the National Library has been unable to hire the required personnel to undertake this task on a full time basis and as such remaining staff can only gradually digitise bits of the collection. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The Dawkins Collection is representative of the biggest plantation owners of Jamaica. As it consists of title deeds, plans, plats, and accounts, the documents are important in tracing the development of huge land holdings from the earliest times of Jamaica’s settlement to the nineteenth century. As such, in the study of wealth creation and development of the Jamaican and by extension Caribbean sugar production, the Dawkins Collection is invaluable. 

Time
The Dawkins Collection starts at the early stage of the settlement of Jamaica in the seventeenth century. Little documentary evidence has survived this period and as such the Dawkins Collection is important in piecing together the life of Jamaica’s earliest settlers. 

Place
The documents of the Dawkins Collection originated in Jamaica. The deeds span different parishes across the island, including Clarendon and St. Catherine. This spatial distribution is important to tracing the nature of landownership in Jamaica and the movement of the planters from one parish to another in the development and formation of their estates. 

People
The Dawkins Collection was generated from one of the major white plantation owning families of Jamaica and some of the wills and powers of attorneys included are important in tracing the lives of these early colonist. Persons interested in the lives and economic activities of members of the white oligarchy will want to take a look at these documents. In addition, the list of enslaved persons will also aid in writing the history of persons who formed the backbone of the wealth of the Dawkins family. 

Subject/Theme
The Dawkins Collection is important in the study of the economic development of Jamaica and for comparative purposes, of the Caribbean as well. 

Form/Style
The copy title deeds, plats, plans and accounts are of interest to palaeographers, particularly the fact that each document followed a format dictated by the times. As such the Dawkins Collection is indicative of the writing style and document format of the times. 

Social Value
The Dawkins family were members of the upper strata of Jamaican society during the period of the enslavement of African peoples. As a result, not only were they landowners, but they were also owners of enslaved Africans. The use of the Dawkins Collection will aid in the study of the transfer of land and plantations over time their heirs and assigns. The Dawkins owned pens and sugar plantations and their documentary evidence would make useful study for the relationship between pens and estates, and the relative survival rate on each. 

Integrity
The Collection is fairly complete. However, due to a lack of funds to adequately preserve and digitise the Dawkins Collection, many of the documents are in a state of decay. 

Rarity
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, possesses a collection of the original deeds and papers relating to the Dawkins family’s Jamaican plantations. Nevertheless, many of the originals have been recorded in volumes now at the National Library and are the only ones available for use in the Caribbean region. 

CONSULTATION

The Executive Director
The National Library
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

NOMINATOR

Dr. James C. Robertson
Department of History and Archaeology
University of the West Indies, Mona
Jamaica

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

Despite the noteworthy efforts of the National Library to secure resources to preserve the collection and the use of gloves by patrons, many of the documents bound in the volumes that make up the Dawkins Collection are in a state of decay. In a few years, without adequate funds to secure the digitisation of the material, persons from the Caribbean will have to go to England to look at the originals stored at the Bodleian Library. The Dawkins Collection is truly unique, starting from the earliest part of Jamaica’s history to the nineteenth century. 

Top

The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection

Name of Documentary Heritage: The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: The Caribbean 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica, 12 East Street, Kingston 

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): The National Library of Jamaica 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection is available to members of the public for consultation on microfilm. 

Copyright Status: Due to the age of the newspapers, the collection is not covered by copyright. However, since most of the Eighteenth Century Newspapers were recently microfilmed, copyright for the reproduction of such microfilm images lies with those who microfilmed it. Take for example, The Weekly Jamaica Courant, there is a notice that “Copyright photograph-not to be reproduced photographically without permission of the Public Record Office, London.” 

Responsible Administration: The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory:  
Copies of eighteenth century newspapers exist as either hard copies or microfilm, with the latter being by far the most prominent. The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection includes: 

1. The Weekly Jamaica Courant

2. The Jamaica Gazette

3. The St. Jago Intelligencer

4. Cornwall Chronicle and Jamaica General Advertiser

5. The Jamaica Mercury and Kingston Weekly Advertiser

6. The Royal Gazette

7. The St. Jago De La Vega Gazette 

8. The Diary and Kingston Daily Advertiser

Eighteenth Century newspapers contained mainly news of England, the London prices of sugar, rum and coffee, ad verbatim proceedings of the English Parliament and announcements of the arrival and departures of ships. Most newspapers contain main stories on England, advertisements that varied in nature, excerpts of books and newspapers from the European continent and notices regarding the death and claims against the estate of deceased persons. All in all, the newspapers from the eighteenth century existed to serve the purpose of the white Jamaican plantocracy.

Bibliographic details:  
The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection is located at the National Library’s Special Collection and Conservation Dept. where there are several detailed catalogues. These catalogues give the dates of the newspapers, the extent of the collection in terms of certain years and whether or not a specific newspaper is on microfilm or bound or photocopied. 

Visual Documentation: 
Most of the Eighteenth Century newspapers are on microfilm. 

HISTORY

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic:  
There are detailed catalogues and attempts are being made to place the bibliographic details of the newspapers on a database that will be placed online. 

Preservation Plan:  
The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection has been preserved by the National Library on microfilm. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
Eighteenth Century Newspapers have been used time and again by historians and other academics to piece together the society, economy and politics of Jamaica in the eighteenth century. Newspapers are very good sources of information such as the prices of sugar, foreign relations, public opinion, the regularity of ships, the prices of enslaved Africans, the sale of property and advertisements for the capture of slaves. The newspapers form the primary sources of information for researchers/students of 18th century Jamaica. 

Time
The eighteenth century newspapers cover a period of the rise and consolidation of the Jamaican plantocracy. Likewise, it is the century for numerous changes including the American War of Independence and the resultant efforts of the planters to source new places for their timber, salted foods and other items necessary for estate production. During this period, the planters were at their peak of power and influence and the examination of the newspapers would gauge the opinions of this powerful minority. 

Place
The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection at the National Library contains only Jamaican newspapers. Jamaica was during this period the gem of the British Empire. Her absentee plantocracy was very influential in British politics, economy and society. 

People
During the eighteenth century, many newspapers were owned by and influenced by the Jamaican plantocracy. As a result, the persons whose needs were met by the newspapers were the white Jamaican planters. The newspapers served their need for news on the European continent, their alignment with England and their English citizenry. As such, the eighteenth century newspapers would prove a good base for the study of the Jamaican plantocracy. 

Subject/Theme
The eighteenth century Jamaican newspapers will aid persons studying the politics, economy and society of eighteenth century Jamaica. Additionally, those interested in diplomatic and constitutional history of Jamaica will want to utilise the newspapers as they at times contained the proceedings of the Jamaican Assembly. 

Form/Style
Each eighteenth century newspaper contained its own unique layout. Persons wishing to do a comparative study of newspaper layouts would do well to study these newspapers. 

Social Value
The Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection is of immense social value, being the medium though which public opinions were aired, and information surrounding the economy, politics and society of eighteenth century Jamaica. 

Integrity
Unfortunately, some of the newspapers are incomplete and possess gaps in years. This however, does not diminish the overall value of the Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection and as such, they are worth examining. Because of the poor quality of paper and the time when microfilming was done, some films have poor legibility. 

Rarity
Though copies of some of these newspapers are held in the Public Record Office in England, many of these Jamaican newspapers are the only one of their kind that exists. Additionally, the National Library is the only institution that can boast such an extensive Jamaican Eighteenth Century Newspaper Collection. 

CONSULTATION

The National Library of Jamaica
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

NOMINATOR

The National Library of Jamaica

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

Most of the eighteenth century newspapers are on microfilm. However, the microfilms are rather pale at times but some issues make up for this by having large print.

Top

History of Jamaica under Lord Vaughn

Name of Documentary Heritage: The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: The Caribbean 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica, 12 East Street, Kingston 

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): 
The National Library 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above

Legal Status: Public

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: 
Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics. 

Copyright Status: Public Domain 

Responsible Administration: The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory: 
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is one volume. It chronicles not only the history of Jamaica under Vaughan, but also all political developments after the tenure of Earl of Carlisle. The manuscript contains 71 pages folio with original marble paper covers, enclosed in a cloth case. The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is an interesting piece of manuscript history compiled for William Blathwayt. It has numerous corrections and interlineations in his handwriting and the additions which appear at the end are also entirely in his hand. 

More than likely, this manuscript was made for official use at the period of the arrival of Lord Carlisle and during the time the King’s Council was enquiring into the affairs of Jamaica. 

The manuscript discusses subjects including the state of the island, its soil, climate, and conquest. The subject matter often appeared in the side corner of the text, with a ruled line dividing the main text from the subject headings. 

Bibliographic details:
The bibliographic details of the History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan are housed within the card catalogue at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library. The Manuscript is filed under MS 159. 

HISTORY

The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan came from the Phillips Collection and was presented as a gift to the National Library. 

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic: 
Steps are being taken to place the bibliographic details of the History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan on a database that will eventually allow for online access for persons unable to visit the National Library. 

Preservation Plan: 
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is in good condition, though the edges have worn away somewhat. In addition, there are watermarks in the Manuscript, though this does not affect its overall usefulness. The binding has also worn. It is the hope of the National Library that funds can be accessed to digitise the material. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is invaluable for persons wishing to studying the early constitutional and political development of Jamaica. The early governors set the tone for the plantation society Jamaica would eventually become. 

Time
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan chronicled in the earliest period of Jamaica’s history and development and as such is one of the few remaining sources of this period. 

Place
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan covers the island of Jamaica. 

People
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan deals with issues surrounding the governors of Jamaica, persons influential in its development. They were instrumental in the development of Jamaica. Likewise, the Board of Trade and Plantations feature prominently. It was under their patronage that many policies and regulations were formulated. 

Subject/Theme
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan covers issues relating to Jamaica’s constitutional and political development, its early landscape and the conquest of the island by the English. 

Form/Style
Persons interested in the study of the archaic hand will find this manuscript invaluable. 

Social Value
The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is of tremendous social value, outlining the early constitutional history of Jamaica. It is one of the rare documents that survive that era. 
Integrity: The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is in good condition. Watermarks have caused some damage, but not enough to make the manuscript sections illegible. 

Rarity
The National Library possesses the only copy of History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan in Jamaica. It is doubtful whether this exists elsewhere in the world. 

CONSULTATION

The National Library of Jamaica
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

NOMINATOR
John Aarons
The Government Archivist
C/O The Jamaica Archives
Spanish Town
Jamaica

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

The History of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan is in good condition, only wearing away somewhat at the edges and containing watermarks that do not affect the manuscript overall. With enough funds, the National Library hopes someday to digitise this very invaluable source of Jamaican history. 

Top

THE INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA LETTER BOOKS

Name of Documentary Heritage: The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: West Indies 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica, 12 East Street, Kingston

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): The National Library 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage:
Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Institute of Jamaica Letter Books lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are available to members of the public for consultation, in particular researchers and academics. 

Copyright Status: Public Domain. 

Responsible Administration: The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica and responsible administration for it lies with the Executive Director 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory:
The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books consists of 60 bound volumes of letters written by former curators and secretaries of the Institute of Jamaica, spanning the start of the Institute in 1891 until 1938. The Letter Books feature letters written by Theodore D. A. Cockerell, former curator; E. Stuart Panton, former acting curator; Frank Cundall, former secretary and librarian; J. E. Duerden, and H. W. Morris, acting secretaries; and Delves Molesworth, assistant secretary. The volumes are bound in half leather binding, all on average 36 by 26 centimeters. Each volume consists of an alphabetical index of names and addresses. Subject matter varies widely and includes the staging of exhibitions; the acquisition of material including a Carib sacrificial knife, portraits of Bryan Edwards and Andrew Archedeckne, an album of the Society for the Relief of Negro Slaves (1825), Nugent Letters and the manuscript copy of “The State of Jamaica Under Lord Vaughan (1678); the hiring of clerks, curators and secretaries including Cundall himself; salaries, expenditure and appeals for funding; the effects of the 1907 earthquake; and scholarships and exams including the administration of the Rhodes Scholarship.” 

Bibliographic details: 
The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are card catalogued under MS 23. Work is ongoing listing and cataloguing the collection. 

HISTORY

The Institute of Jamaica came into being in 1879 and as such the letters span this early period down to the period of consolidation in 1938. The letters were written by former secretaries and curators, notably Frank Cundall. The Letter Books, having been written by the then administrative staff of the Institute and dealing with matters ranging from the everyday and mundane to the rare and extraordinary, were kept in the possession of the National Library for posterity.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic:
The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are card catalogued on site at the National Library at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. Ongoing efforts are being made to place the details of the collection in a database, thus providing an online catalogue to patrons unable to visit the library. 

Preservation Plan: 
Some of the Letter Books are in a very fragile state. The National Library of Jamaica has taken on the task of rebinding the Letter Books on a gradual basis and using tissue paper to fill in what insects have eaten away. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The National Library of Jamaica has the rather important task of preserving documents imperative to the study of Jamaica’s history. How it came into being and its development over the years are also important aspects of this history. The Letter Books will aid in this respect in maintaining the ideas and views of its pioneers. The role of the Institute in shaping the cultural heritage cannot be ignored and such an institution deserves its history preserved. 

Time
The Letter Books came into being at a time of great changes to Jamaica’s history and culture. Jamaica was a colony of Great Britain and as such it is important to see how and why the Institute of Jamaica was developed in a period where many argued that Jamaica had no history or at least none worth preserving. Another important aspect of the Letter Books is that they will allow for the study of the mentality of persons at the time, since it is not infrequently argued that letters are unwitting testimony. 

Place
The Letter Books were written by persons in Jamaica. Having come about in the island, the Letter Books which span a forty year period would be a useful study of changes overtime, especially since there was so much happening in Jamaica during this period, including the impact of the World Wars, the rise of nationalism and the struggles of the working class in Jamaica. The Letter Books would be a microcosm of these external happenings. 

People
One of the most famous curators of the Institute of Jamaica was Frank Cundall. His contribution to the development of Jamaica’s archives and repositories cannot be ignored. Interestingly, it is Frank Cundall that has written the majority of these letters. Persons interested in studying this rather important man, can utilise the Letter Books to achieve this end. In addition, Cundall was involved with the Cambridge exams both GCE O and A Levels, and scholarship exams. His execution of these roles is most important and is reflected in many of the letters that he wrote, which are available in the Letter Books. The other curators and secretaries are also important, because they contributed to the shaping of Jamaican thought by the preservation of sources of her history, both natural and social. 

Subject/Theme
The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books cover a broad range of topics ranging from University of Cambridge examinations, hiring of staff, expenditure, new buildings etc to the acquisition of new collections, the selling of some material etc. 

Form/Style
The letters are rather interesting in that they began when typewriters were not in wide usage and by 1914, almost all letters were typed. The style of each letter reflects old Jamaica greetings etc, which today are not largely used in letters. 

Social Value
The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are important in preserving the history of the Institute and the National Library. Providing a service central to Jamaica’s culture and development, any documents relating to the Institute of Jamaica and the National Library need to be preserved. 

Integrity
Some of the Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are in a state of decay whereas some have already been restored and the work is ongoing. 

Rarity
The Institute of Jamaica Letter Books are truly unique. There are no large copies of letters relating to the Institute of Jamaica to be found anywhere in the world and as such, it needs to be preserved. 

CONSULTATION

The National Library of Jamaica
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

NOMINATOR

National Library of Jamaica

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

Time has caused many of the pages to go blank because the ink was pale in the first instance.

Top

THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE IOJ

Name of Documentary Heritage: The Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: Caribbean 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica 12 East Street, Kingston 

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): The National Library 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Minutes Institute of Jamaica lie with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica. 

Accessibility: The Institute of Jamaica Minutes are available to members of the public for consultation. 
Copyright Status: The material is owned by the National Library of Jamaica. 

Responsible Administration: The Institute of Jamaica Minutes are located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library and responsible administration for it lies with the Executive Director of the National Library. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory:
The Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica consists of 19 volumes and each starts with an alphabetised index. Volumes 1 to 11 consist of minutes spanning 1879-1951. Volumes 12 and 13 consist of newspaper clippings dating from 1896-1952. Volumes 14 and 17 are the Visitors Book, 1893-1894 and 1917-1937 respectively. The Museum Scrapbook forms volume 15 and volume 16 is the Lodgement Book, 1919-1929. Volume 18 is the Accessions Register, spanning 1914-1972 and Volume 19 is the Membership Book, 1916-1939. Copies of letters etc are inserted into the minute book where appropriate. Earlier Minutes are hand written whilst the later ones are typed. On the outer edge of each page, the subject matter of the minutes is indicated. The leaves for those that are typed consist of sheets that have been glued into the pages of the books. The handwritten ones on the other hand are written unto the pages of the books. The format of the minutes invariably follows the same pattern: date, those present at meetings, absences, minutes, finance, membership roll and miscellaneous items. The subject matter varies widely consisting of formulating rules, supplying books, overdue books, lost books, emancipation day celebration and new books or acquisitions. 

Most clippings are of events hosted by or under the patronage of the Institute of Jamaica. Such events include poetry recitals, honouring persons e.g. Sir Philip Sherlock, lecturers given e.g. on 31/1/39 a lecture was given on African Art and Exhibitions on Africa. The Museum Scrapbook is made up of Newspaper clippings etc. Unlike the Newspaper Clippings, it is less well organised. Subject matter varies but all are about Jamaica and so includes the fauna and flora of Jamaica, for example.

The Visitors Book is formatted according to date of the visitors, their name and address. It is obvious that many persons visited the Institute, of whom not a few were visitors.

The Membership Books contain members’ number, name, address, date of application, date of election, arrears, due amount for the year, date paid, amount paid, cash book folios and remarks.

Bibliographic details:
The Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica are listed catalogued under MS 2043. The card catalogue is quite adequate, with every card reflecting the different headings for each book e.g. Minute books, newspaper clippings, etc. 

HISTORY

Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica span 1879 to 1951. The minutes are of the meetings of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica and as such were passed down to the National Library’s Special Collections and Conservation Dept. 

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic: 
Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica are card catalogued on site at the National Library at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. Ongoing efforts are being made to place the details of the collection in a database, thus providing an online catalogue to patrons unable to visit the library. 

Preservation Plan:
The state of the Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica varies from one book to the other. In general, the minute books are fairly well preserved. Most volumes have the notice in one form or the other that “The solution used in binding this book has been specially prepared in order to render the work impervious to the ravages of insects.” However, all have been in varying degrees affected by the “ravages of insects”. For some, though the hardcover has decayed, the inside text is well preserved. In general, therefore, it is clear that the Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica require preservation, though the inside of the cover notes that insecticide was used in the binding. Efforts are ongoing and the National Library and in particular, the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. has undertaken the task of rebinding the Minutes on a gradual basis and using tissue paper to fill in what insects have eaten away. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The Institute of Jamaica is one of the many bodies responsible for the preservation of Jamaica’s history. Its creation and evolution are therefore important. In 1939, the Institute was responsible for hosting an exhibition and lecture on African Art. In 1939, this was certainly a major step in a country that was colonised by Britain. As a result the role and impact of the Institute in the development of Black pride and nationalism cannot be ignored. 

Time
The Institute has seen and been through major changes. It emerged during colonisation and saw the 1907 earthquake, the 1938 riots and universal adult suffrage in 1944, just to name a few major turning points and events in Jamaica’s history. As a result, the response of the Institute to these changes can be examined, especially since these persons resided in Jamaica and their opinions would have been reflected of a section of Jamaica’s society. In addition, the response of the Institute to these events and the direction that they took as a result would be important aspects of their development and the development of Jamaica as well. 
Place
The Institute of Jamaica is located in Jamaica. However, Jamaica has undergone the struggle from Crown Colony to Independence. These changes could not be ignored and the role of the Institute in the thick of this cannot either. 

People
The Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica contains the views of many persons. Not the least of which is H. Delisser. Delisser was one of the major media persons of the time, writing for several newspaper editorials. Delisser was certainly a man of his time and it was hard not to pick up a newspaper during the early 20th century and not read Delisser’s views which were mostly reflective of many of the upper and upper middle-classes at the time. In addition, Frank Cundall was later a member of the Board of Governor’s and his contribution to the development of Jamaica’s archives and repositories is indeed significant. A study of the minutes would display the efforts of Cundall and clearly delineate his contribution. 

Subject/Theme
The Minutes of the Board of Governors contains many subjects and themes. These include responses to the external society, e.g., the earthquake of 1907, membership, expenditure and permanent staff, hiring of personnel, acquisition of new material, building of the junior centre, supplying books to different organisations, lost books, borrowing books, membership fees and arrears and exhibitions and lectures. 

Form/Style
The format of the minutes discussed above is important for persons wishing it. The Minutes were at first hand written and it would be useful to study. 

Social Value
The Institute of Jamaica plays a tremendous role in the preservation of Jamaica’s history and its minutes or anything pertaining to its development and evolution would be therefore invaluable. From the newspaper clippings, it is clear that the Institute played a major role in the progress of Jamaica’s culture, sponsoring lectures on African Art and poetry readings. By giving ear to the Jamaica literati, the Institute fostered the development of Jamaica’s society. 

Integrity
The Minutes of the Board of Governors in general needs to be better preserved. For most, it is not that the information has decayed or been eaten away, but rather it is that the outer portions of the pages have decayed. Likewise the binding of some have fallen away. In addition, volume three of the minutes is missing. 

Rarity
The Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica is the only one of its kind. As a result it needs to be preserved. 

CONSULTATION

John Aarons
Government Archivist

NOMINATOR

The National Library of Jamaica

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

Many of the volumes of the Minutes of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Jamaica are on a priority list for restoration. The data is not compromised.

Top

Jamaica Plat Book

ABSTRACT

Plat books are records or volumes containing diagrams of land granted to settlers in Jamaica and other Caribbean territories. In addition, they give valuable information regarding the purpose of the land granted to the particular settler. 

IDENTITY AND LOCATION 

Name of documentary heritage: Plat books
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: West Indies 
Address (location of doc): Jamaica Archives, Corner of King and Manchester Streets, Spanish Town. 

Legal Information

Owner: Jamaica Archives 

Custodian: as above 

Legal Status: These records are owned by the National Archives, and are accessible to the public, to be used at the National Archives. There are no restrictions on its use within the purview of proper treatment of the documents.

Details of legal and administrative provision for the preservation of the Documentary heritage

Accessibility: These volumes are easily accessible at the Archives and are made available for research by historians and other researchers. Patrons of the Archives are required to sign books explaining the purpose of research and contact details. There are no other requirements for use of this particular historical record. Like all other Archival holdings, these documents cannot be removed from the Clinton Black Reading Room, the central reading room in the Jamaica Archives.

Copyright Status: The proportions of the Plat Books makes them difficult to photocopy without damaging the records, but digitizing under the supervision of archive staff of a selected amount, as well as note taking, are permitted. 

Responsible administration: Responsibility for the collection is with the Government Archivist. 

Identification

Description: 
The volumes of Plat Books housed at the archives contain diagrams of land granted to settlers. The entries are in alphabetical order. Individual indexes contained in the volumes give information related to the parish of the land, the year it was granted and to whom. The books also contain the size of acreage of the land, the purpose of the tract, the date and the owner(s) of the property. 

Bibliographic Details:
While there is no general index to the series, several volumes have indexes.

HISTORY

These and other volumes under the control of the Jamaica Archives were deposited after 1953, when a committee was appointed specifically for the archives as a section of the Island Record Office, established in 1879, following the passing of the Island Records Law (law 6 of 1879). 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA 

Influence
Plat books and other materials pertaining to the early history of settlement in Jamaica have influenced the writings of myriad historians. These volumes give valuable information regarding the evolution of land grants in the island. Historians have been able to trace the development, growth and transitions of land and related transactions from these records. Their pictorial nature also allows for specific research to be done on the size and topography of land in Jamaica and allows for illustrated works to emerge. 

Time/place
The Jamaican plat books naturally focus on the island. Plat books contain information regarding land from as early as settlers were granted tracts in the 15th century. 

People
While the focus is on diagrams of land and property in Jamaica, these volumes often include the owners of the land and as such, interested persons are able to study specific individuals and their connections with particular areas of the island and land grants. 

Form/Style
The individual books are large bound volumes with diagrams of properties. Though large, they are in fairly good condition. The diagrams are clear and visible and contain information along side the drawings pertaining to the land.

Social Value
One of the poignant values of the information contained in the volumes of plat books is the variety of information it contains and the myriad information they contain. Various types of research can be conducted using this one document. It is also a useful tool for cross-referencing evidence from similar sources in the recreation of the history of Jamaica from the 15th to 18th centuries. 

Integrity
These are original documents that have been preserved in their original state as well as on microfilm.

Rarity
While similar information may be found in wills and deeds at the archives and the Island records office, the plat books as a single collection in itself is rarely found in such sequence. 

MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Preservation Plan: The archive takes special precautions to safeguard the quality of its collections, by instructing patrons in the proper techniques when using the documents. Patrons are not allowed to use pens in the reading room, and are sometimes offered magnifying glasses if the material is hard to decipher. Proper handling of these records is stressed. The archive has embarked on a 5 year plan to microfilm all its collections, particularly older ones and those that are deteriorating with time. However the completion of this is contingent on funding. 

CONSULTATION 

John Aarons
53-56 Church street
Kingston 

Tel: (876) 922 3705-6

NOMINATOR

Jamaica Archives

Top

The Letterbook of the Columbian Commerical Agency in Jamaica, 1832-1839 and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica, 1844-1861

ABSTRACT

The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica contains two sections, its namesake dated from 1832 to 1839 and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica dated from 1844 to 1861. Both Letterbooks are in Spanish and are useful for persons studying Jamaica’s foreign relations in the nineteenth century. The Letterbooks contain the impression of the Consul members of life in Jamaica. Subjects dealt with include the situation of the formerly enslaved Africans in Jamaica, housing, sugar estates and provisions. An examination of the Letterbooks would give an honest eye-witness and outsider’s view of Jamaica in the nineteenth century.

PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

IDENTITY AND LOCATION

Name of Documentary Heritage: The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica, 1832-1839 and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica, 1844-1861 
Country: Jamaica and Columbia 
State, Province or Region: The Caribbean 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica, 12 East Street, Kingston 

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): 

The National Library of Jamaica 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567
Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: 
Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica lie with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica, 1832-1839 and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica, 1844-1861 are available to members of the public for consultation, in particular researchers and academics. 

Copyright Status: Due to the age of the material, being over 150 years old, the letterbooks are in the public domain.

Responsible Administration: The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica and responsible administration for it lies with the Executive Director of the National Library.

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory: There is only one volume of the Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica. The letters are in Spanish and are written to members of the Columbian government outside of Jamaica. They chiefly deal with the commercial link between Jamaica and Columbia that existed during this period. Additionally, letters deal with epidemics and the social situation in Jamaica. The ink used on the first few pages is so pale as to make the writing/content almost invisible. 

The Columbia (Nueva Granada) Consulate was located in Kingston, Jamaica. The Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia contains copies of all out-letters of the Consul and span September 17, 1844 to May 2, 1861. The letters are written in Spanish. The Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica deals with several subjects. This includes the plight of the free Blacks in Jamaica, housing, agriculture, and provisions. The first letter in particular gives an overview of the situation in Jamaica through the eyes on the Consul. The Letters are written to Secretaries of State, Prefects and other members of the Columbian government. 

Bibliographic details: Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are filed under MS 294 in the card catalogue in the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library. 

HISTORY

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic: Bibliographic details of the Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are located in the card catalogue on site in the Special Collections and Conservations Dept. at the National Library. Ongoing efforts are being made to place such details in a database which will eventually be placed online to provide access to patrons unable to come into the library.

Preservation Plan: The Letterbooks are in a fragile state. Both books need to be rebound as the covers are missing. Furthermore, in the case of the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica, water stains have ruined the first few pages, making the content unreadable. The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica also has similar problems resulting from water marks. The National Library has however made plans to have both books rebound. Likewise, patrons are urged to utilise gloves provided by the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. when consulting the Letterbooks. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are useful for persons interested in studying Jamaica’s social and economic affairs during this period. It would be interesting to study the relations between the two countries during this period. Additionally, the fairly candid comments of the consul can aid in representing life in Jamaica. Today, Jamaica has ties with Columbia and from the Letterbooks it would seem that this relation was cemented early on.

Time
The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica came into being in 1832. This was two years before the abolition of slavery and one year following the Sam Sharpe Rebellion. As such, the study of this Letterbook would encapsulate the impact of the Rebellion and the turning point in Jamaica’s history. The Letterbook spans the abolition of slavery in 1834, the apprenticeship system and its ending in 1839. These dates and events are so integral to Jamaica’s history and development that a Letterbook that spans these major turning points cannot be ignored. The Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica came about in 1844, two years before the Sugar Duties Equalisation Act and goes up to 1861, four years before the Morant Bay Rebellion. The Sugar Duties Equalisation Act had a devastating effect on the Jamaican sugar industry and resulted in common hardship all over Jamaica. The Morant Bay Rebellion resulted in the replacement of the Old Representative System of Government by Crown Colony Government and as such marks a defining moment in Jamaica’s constitutional history. As such, this Letterbook would be useful for persons interested in the state of affairs in Jamaica during these time frames. 

Place
The Letterbooks were written in Jamaica by persons not from Jamaica. As such, they allow for an interesting outsider’s look at conditions in Jamaica. The Consuls were located in Kingston, Jamaica and perhaps the letters would be framed by conditions in that city. 

People
The letters were written by representatives of Columbia in Jamaica. Such persons were mainly ambassadors and ministers. The persons that they wrote to were Secretaries of State, Prefects and other Columbian government officials. The letters are useful for the study of eye-witness views of conditions in Jamaica, conditions that were brought to the attention of the Columbian government. The honest views that these persons may have had about members of the Jamaican Assembly and Council might prove useful for persons studying the Old Representative System of Government in Jamaica. 

Subject/Theme
The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica will prove useful for persons wishing to study the economic, political and social conditions in Jamaica. Likewise persons studying the diplomatic history of Jamaica will find the Letterbooks invaluable. 

Form/Style
The letters are written in Spanish and as such Latin American style of address will be utilised. Persons wishing to study comparative language styles of address will no doubt enjoy examining the Letterbooks. 
Criterion 7, Social Value: The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are very important. They are of social value because they span major turning points in Jamaica’s history, including the abolition of slavery, the apprenticeship and its ending, the Sugar Duties Equalisation Act and the conditions that started the road to the Morant Bay Rebellion. 

Integrity
As a result of water marks and the resultant effect to the ink and the contents of the letters, Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are equally compromised. The pages are at times brittle and fragile and the letters sometimes hard to read because the ink has become pale due to age. 

Rarity
The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica may not be extremely rare if copies of the letters written exist outside of Jamaica. However, the Letterbooks are unique because they are the only ones located in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

CONSULTATION

The National Library
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567
Email: nlj@infochan.com

NOMINATOR

Dr. James C. Robertson
Department of History and Archaeology
University of the West Indies, Mona
Jamaica.

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

The Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica are fragile due to age. Liquid has affected the state of some of the letters and as a result watermarks have made the ink pale and the contents of the letters unreadable in certain cases. This also has a negative impact of the leaves of the books. However, considering the age of the Letterbooks and the effect of the liquid on the leaves, the Letterbooks are surprisingly in fair condition. However, the National Library has made arrangements for the Letterbook of the Columbian Commercial Agency in Jamaica and the Letterbook of the Consul of Columbia in Jamaica to be rebound in due time. 

Top

THE LUCKY VALLEY ESTATE PLANS

Name of Documentary Heritage: The Lucky Valley Estate Plans 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: Caribbean 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica 12 East Street, Kingston 

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): 
The National Library of Jamaica 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Lucky Valley Estate Plans lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The Lucky Valley Estate Plans is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics. 

Copyright Status: The collection is not covered by copyright. 

Responsible Administration: The Lucky Valley Estate Plans are located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory:
The Lucky Valley Estate Plan is drawn to perfection, reflecting the Juan de Bolas River to the north, to the left Oaks Estate and the right Unity Plantation. Lucky Valley was a sugar estate and as such all maps reflected this by noting in general the number of acreage in canes, pasture, woodlands, accommodation and grounds for the enslaved, the factory and works, the great house and the boundaries discussed above. One of the earliest maps of Lucky Valley was drawn by James Blair in 1769 at the request of Edward Long. Higman notes how striking this map is, “What is most striking about this plan is that it incorporates a series of concentric circles and arcs, drawn at quarter-mile intervals, superimposed over the layout of the estate and clearly centred on the mid-point of the works building.” Other maps were drawn by surveyors Kenneth Morison in 1773, Benjamin Hayes in 1816 and the map of 1883 witnessed by Isaac Barnes. Overall the maps are all well done and rather detailed. 

Bibliographic details: 
There are several copies of Lucky Valley estate maps as discussed above. They are all located in the online database available at the National Library. In addition, they are catalogued by parish and so begin with Clarendon followed by a number. 

Visual Documentation: 
Photographs exist of the Lucky Valley Estate Plans and they have been used as illustrations in several books in particular Barry Higman’s Jamaica Surveyed: Plantation Maps and Plans of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. 

HISTORY

The Lucky Valley Estate Plans form part of the Cadastral Map Collection which consists of maps and plans that were prepared by private surveyors. All maps, except the last. was ordered by members of the Long family including Edward Long and Edward Beeston Long. Oftentimes, the maps were done up in response to new additions to the land, death of the owner (in the case of E. Beeston Long) or on the proprietor leaving to go overseas (Edward Long). Between 1876 and 1891 the maps and plans were collected by Thomas Harrison, the Surveyor General who made use of them in producing the cadastral maps of the parishes of Jamaica. In the 1940s, the collection was handed over to the Institute of Jamaica and placed in the West India Reference Library. The collection of this library became the basis of the National Library when it was established in 1979.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic:
The bibliographic details of the maps are available online via the database on site at the National Library. 
Preservation Plan: The Lucky Valley Estate Maps are overall fairly well preserved. Patrons are urged to use gloves and the maps are stored in acid free folders. In addition, preservation work, for example was done on the 1883 map and as such, the original map was glued to rice paper. There are however tears along the creases and the bottom right has been eaten away somewhat due to corrosion. This does not, however, ruin or affect the map itself. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
The Lucky Valley Estate Plans are useful for persons wishing to study land usage and tenure, especially since it is argued that the general principles of plantation layout is adhered to by the Lucky Valley Estate. Likewise, it gives some information for persons wishing to study early surveying techniques and landscape history. Persons wishing to study the Longs will do well to consult these maps since they give evidence of decline over time. The Longs were prominent members of the West India Lobby and also powerful London merchants who were influential both in the Caribbean and in England. Edward Long, for example, wrote the three volumes of History of Jamaica which are used by almost every historian studying the 18th century Jamaica. Long gives tips for planters on the layout of their plantation and so forth. It would be interesting to note whether his views etc, were reflected in his estate plan. 

Time
The Lucky Valley Estate Maps stretch over a number of years. As Higman notes, the maps not only give dates but also the possessions of the estate. What is clear therefore, is that to study these maps is also to study decline over the course of two generations. However, while there is material decline in wealth, land was added on to the estates. As such, time, in terms of a stretch of time is useful in this case. 

Place
The Lucky Valley Estate is located in Clarendon, Jamaica. Persons wishing to study land usage, etc in Clarendon can use the Lucky Valley Estate Plans as a microcosm of the study of estates in Clarendon in general, especially since the Lucky Valley Estate was a reflection of the ideal layout of an estate. 

People
The first family who owned the Lucky Valley Estate were the Longs. These were powerful and wealthy person. Samuel Long for example was a member of the Jamaican Assembly as was Edward Long, who wrote the History of Jamaica. It is worth mentioning that the merchant firm the family owned and ran in London was a factor for many West Indian planters. The Longs were also powerful lobbyist, belonging to the West India Interest. As such, one cannot study these persons without also looking at their plantations. 

Subject/Theme
The Lucky Valley Estate Plans are useful in the study of Jamaican economic history, land ownership, land tenure and usage, history of surveying, and map making. 

Form/Style
Persons wishing to study the surveying techniques, the material used and the format of early maps and plans of former surveyors will find the Lucky Valley Estate Plans invaluable. 

Social Value
The Lucky Valley Estate Plans are a valuable primary source of Jamaica’s social and economic history. It reflects the ideal layout of a plantation and indicates land tenure and usage. 

Integrity and Rarity
The Lucky Valley Estate Plans are in fairly good condition. They are especially unique, in that the National Library possesses the only originals. 

CONSULTATION

Prof. Barry Higman
National University of Australia
Canberra
Australia

NOMINATOR

National Memory of the World Committee Jamaica (1999) 

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

The Lucky Valley Estate Plans are in the main, well preserved. Patrons are advised to use gloves when consulting the maps and in addition, the maps are preserved in acid free folders which reduce the risk of corrosion. However, funds are needed to digitise these maps. 

Top

Manumission of Slaves

ABSTRACT

The records of manumission of slaves are deeds freeing enslaved people. It includes 70 volumes of deeds spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. Volume 70, which is dated after emancipation in 1834, contains the deeds releasing persons from apprenticeship. 

IDENTITY AND LOCATION 

Name of documentary heritage: Manumission of Slaves
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: West Indies 
Address (location of doc): Jamaica Archives, Corner of King and Manchester Streets, Spanish Town. 

Legal Information

Owner: The Jamaica Archives 

Custodian: as above 

Legal Status: These records are owned by the Jamaica Archives, and are accessible to the public. There are no restrictions on its use within the purview of proper treatment of the documents

Details of legal and administrative provision for the preservation of the Documentary heritage:

Accessibility: Like all other Archival holdings, these volumes cannot be removed from the Clinton Black Reading Room, the central reading room in the Jamaica Archives. 

Copyright Status: The age and state of many of the paper documents in this collection make them difficult to reproduce by photocopying, but digitizing under the supervision of archive staff of a selected amount, as well as note taking is permitted. Those that are microfilmed can be reproduced to paper format. 

Responsible administration: Responsibility for the collection is with the Government Archivist. 

Identification

Description:
These records are in 70 bound volumes. The first 4 volumes were listed as missing, in the list of record books in the Island Secretary’s Office compiled in 1869. 

The documents begin in the year 1747 and there end in 1838, the end of the apprenticeship period. Some of these records are also in microfilm form and has an individual index at the front of each volume. They are hand written and include the sum of money paid to free the enslaved person. It also includes the name of the enslaved person, the previous owner, and details about the person including skin colour, kin as well as the parish they lived and worked in. 

Bibliographic Details:
This collection includes 2 index volumes in which entries are recorded under the name of the manumitter but not of the person manumitted. The first volume covers libers 12-53 (1778-1819) and the second includes libers 54-68 (1819-1833). In addition most of the volumes including numbers 5-7, 9, 12, 69, 70 have their own indices. 

HISTORY
The list of record books in the Island Secretary’s Office was compiled in 1869. These would have been handed over to the National Archives after 1953, when a committee was appointed specifically for the archives as a section of the Island Record Office, established in 1879, following the passing of the Island Records Law (law 6 of 1879). 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA 

Influence
Documents such as these are invaluable sources of the study of slavery in the Caribbean and more specifically, Jamaican context. They have helped to shed light on the process of freedom in the context of a slave society and have been used my myriad historians as sources for a variety of studies. Though it was only relatively fee enslaved people that got their freedom before emancipation in 1834, these documents offer an insight into the ‘anomalies’ of freed blacks and coloureds in this structure of the slave society. 

Time
Volumes 12-53 cover the period 1778-1819 while volumes 54-68 1819-1833. these dates cover the period of slavery in Jamaica, which was officially ended in 1834. The period of apprenticeship from 1834 to 1838 is reflected in a final volume which includes deeds for those persons who were released, usually by payment, from apprenticeship. 

Place
The records are also significant in that they usually include the exact location by parish and occasionally estate that the enslaved person is being released from. Therefore one is able to get a picture of the trends of manumission according to parish and estate. One is also able to get a picture of the significance of manumission in Jamaica as a premier slave society which in was strategically, one of the most important sugar producing British colonies of the 18th century. 

People
Enslaved people, as chattel were robbed of their human identity, and reduced to cargo, and property of other persons. Probably the most poignant contribution of this collection to historiography and the study of history itself, is that it sheds light on what people were worth in monetary terms. One is also able to trace the owners of these enslaved people identify trends as to which properties engaged in manumission of their enslaved people.

Social Value
By listing names, kin, and the amount of money needed to free a person from life long servitude, this collection allows historians and other interested persons a better insight into the value of enslaved people to the plantation economies of the Caribbean and Jamaica. It is also useful for genealogical studies, as families can be traced through these documents since hey include the kin of the newly freed person, as well as the former owners and parish of birth.

Integrity
These documents are original hand written documents that have been preserved in their original state as well as on microfilm. 

Rarity
These are one of the few documents which state how much money enslaved persons were worth. This collection is the only one of this nature in the island. 

MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Preservation Plan: The archive takes special precautions to safeguard the quality of its collections, by instructing patrons in the proper techniques when using the documents. Patrons are not allowed to use pens in the reading room, and are sometimes offered magnifying glasses if the material is hard to decipher. Proper handling of these records is stressed. The archive has embarked on a 5 year plan to microfilm all its collections, particularly older ones and those that are deteriorating with time. However the completion of this is contingent on funding. Nonetheless the very early documents in this collection have been microfilmed and patrons are usually given the microfilmed version to use rather than the bound volumes to ensure survival of the original documents. 

CONSULTATION 

John Aarons 
53-56 Church street
Kingston 

Tel: (876) 922 3705-6

NOMINATOR

Jamaica Archives

Top

A MAP OF THE WEST INDIES AND MIDDLE CONTINENT OF AMERICA, 1790

ABSTRACT

A Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America was drawn by John Blair as a supplement to his tables of chronology. This map is very descriptive and contains drawings of Cuba, Jamaica, St. Domingo, the Leeward Islands, a bit of South America, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Yucatan, and Florida, Georgia and Louisiana in North America. The smaller islands of the Bahamas, Providence and the tiny French islands of Marie Galante, Martinique and Guadeloupe are also represented. This map is especially useful for researchers of the topography of the West Indies and visual representation in the 18th century.

PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

IDENTITY AND LOCATION

Name of Documentary Heritage: A Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America, from the latest observations by John Blair LLD, and FRS as a supplement to his tables of chronology, 1790. 
Country: Jamaica 
State, Province or Region: West Indies 
Address: The National Library of Jamaica, 12 East Street, Kingston

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): The National Library 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567

Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics. 

Copyright Status: Due to the age of the document, being over 200 years old, the map is not covered by copyright.

Responsible Administration: John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory: 
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is fairly descriptive and includes most areas in the region including Cuba, Jamaica, St. Domingo, The Leeward Islands, sections of South America including Venezuela, Central American states, including Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Yucatan and sections of North America including bits of Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. Other countries include the Bahamas, Providence Island, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Marie Galante. Blair also makes note of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. Initial observation allows one to observe that all the Caribbean Islands are represented, and while this is the case, Blair’s West Indian map lacks internal detail and as such, places are not at all named at times. In addition, the topography of each territory is ignored. But this can be attributed to the size of the map and the fact that what Blair lacks internally he more than makes up for externally by making note of even the tiniest lava island. 

Bibliographic details:
Bibliographic details John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is located on site in the card catalogue in the Special Collections and Conservations Dept. Likewise, its details are being placed in a database that can be accessed at the National Library. In time, this database will be put online, where it will become easily accessible to persons unable to visit the National Library. 

HISTORY

John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America was published in 1790 as a supplement to his tables of chronology. 

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic: 
Bibliographic details of John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America are available in the card catalogue, which is on site at the National Library’s Special Collection and Conservations Dept. In addition, efforts are being made to place these details in a database, which will eventually become available to persons online who are unable to visit the National Library. 

Preservation Plan: 
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is overall very well preserved. Patrons are advised to use gloves when consulting this manuscript. In addition, the map is stored in an acid free folder. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is very useful for persons studying the regional development of the Caribbean and the Americas. Blair’s map is reader friendly and easy to use. Though not possessing thorough representation of the internal parts of the territories, Blair has indeed made up for this in his very comprehensive map of the West Indies. It is useful for persons studying the West Indies as a reference map because Blair’s map has the old names of some territories. Very few maps of this early period depict the West Indies in such detail. 

Time and Place
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America was published in 1790 and as such it is valuable for 18th century researchers. In addition, the scope of the map is not just limited to the Caribbean but includes also portions of North, Central and South America or even English speaking territories. 

People
The persons who occupied the places covered by the map were from different races, including Europeans, Africans and Amerindians. 

Subject/Theme
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is useful for the study of the spatial distribution of the islands. In addition, persons interested in the changes to the names of places over time will find this map especially useful. 

Form/Style
The map drawn by Blair is especially detailed. In addition it is consistent with 18th century style. Persons interested in the spelling of words and the changes to the names of countries over time find it useful. 

Social Value
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America possesses tremendous social value for the study of the West Indies. Unlike most maps of its time, Blair’s map is especially comprehensive as it relates to territories and more than likely, historians of the West Indies will always seek to use this map in their works. 

Integrity
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is very well preserved and all the text is in good order. 

Rarity
John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is very unique owing to the undue attention paid to geographic spaces. 

CONSULTATION

NOMINATOR

PART B

ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

John Blair’s Map of the West Indies and Middle Continent of America is very well preserved. It is kept in acid free folders and patrons are urged to use gloves when consulting this source. The map is also reader friendly.

Top

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY NEWSPAPER COLLECTION

LEGAL INFORMATION

Owner (Name and contact details): The National Library 
12 East Street
Kingston

Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516

Fax: (876) 922-5567
Email: nlj@infochan.com

Custodian: As above 

Legal Status: Public 

Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary heritage: Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection. 

Accessibility: The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics.

Copyright Status: Due to the age of the newspapers, the newspapers are not covered by copyright. However, since most of the Nineteenth Century Newspapers were recently microfilmed, copyright for the use of such microfilm images lies with those who microfilmed it. 

Responsible Administration: The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library of Jamaica and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library of Jamaica. 

IDENTIFICATION

Description and inventory: 
Most of the Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection has been placed on microfilm. Even bound copies were recently microfilmed so that the entire collection has been done. The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection covers newspapers from all over the English Caribbean and include: 

Antigua 
The Weekly Register 
Barbados 
The Barbadian 
The Barbados Mercury and Bridgetown Gazette 
The Times 
British Guiana/Guyana 
Essequebo and Demerary Royal Gazette®Royal Gazette of the United Colony of Essequebo and Demerary (1817)®Royal Gazette of British Guiana (1832) 
The Cayman Islands 
The Royal Gazette and Turks and Caicos Islands Commercial Literary Political Journal 
Dominica 
The Dominican 
The Dominica Colonist 
Grenada 
The St. George Chronicle and Grenada Gazette 
The New Era 
The Equilibrium 
Haiti 
Bulletin Official Du Port - Republican 
Jamaica 
The Royal Gazette 
The St. Jago De La Vega Gazette 
The Diary and Kingston Daily Advertiser 
The Jamaica Courant 
Cornwall Chronicle Supplement 
The Kingston Chronicle 
The Buckatoro Journal 
The Trifler 
The New Times 
The Struggler 
The Watchman and Jamaica Free Press 
The Patriot 
The Gleaner Commercial Advertiser 
Jamaica Despatch and Shanon’s Daily Messenger 
The Falmouth Post 
The Morning Journal 
The Jamaica Standard 
De Cordova’s Mercantile Intelligencer 
The Colonial Standard and Jamaica Despatch 
Lawton’s Commercial Gazette 
The Jamaica Tribune and Daily Advertiser 
Anglo-Jamaican Advertiser 
The Sentinel Country Union and Anglo-Jamaican Advertiser 
The Jamaica Guardian 
Gall’s Newsletter 
The Jamaica Instruction 
The Budget 
The Trelawny and Public Advertiser 
The Jamaica Witness 
Westmoreland Telegraph and Planters’ Gazette 
The Jamaica Colonialist 
The Jamaica Creole and Daily Recorder 
The Nineteenth Century and St. James Gazette 
The Evening Express 
The West India Field Colonial Wesleyan Chronicle 
The Jamaica Post 
The Jamaica Advocate 
The Daily Telegraph and Anglo-American Herald 
St. Kitts 
The St. Christopher Advertiser and Weekly Intelligencer 
St. Lucia 
The Voice of St. Lucia 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Trinidad Gazette 
Trinidad and Tobago Chronicle 
Tobago Gazette 
Turk and Caicos Islands 
The Turks Island Gazette and Commercial Reporter 
The Royal Standard and Gazette of the Turks and Caicos Islands 
The Turks Islands

The owners and readership of nineteenth century newspapers was in general wider than that of the eighteenth century. The nineteenth century witnessed the rise of newspapers owned by the free coloured and black factions of the Jamaican society, for example. The Watchman and Jamaica Free Press for instance was owned by a member of the coloured middle class. Though the subject matters of the nineteenth century newspapers were at times similar to that of the eighteenth century, due to a readership more extensive than the white plantocracy, the issues dealt with were more varied. They included topics such as the inequality and injustice meted out the mixed population, emancipation, religious affairs and agriculture. 

Bibliographic details: 
The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection is located at the National Library’s Special Collection and Conservation Dept. where there are several detailed catalogues. These catalogues give the dates of the newspapers, the extent of the collection in terms of certain years and whether or not a specific newspaper is on microfilm or bound or photocopied. 
Visual Documentation: Most of the Nineteenth Century newspapers are on microfilm. 

HISTORY

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Bibliographic:
While there are detailed catalogues of the extent of the National Library's nineteenth century newspaper holdings, there is no card catalogue of it. However, attempts are being made to place the bibliographic details of the newspapers on a database that will be placed online. 

Preservation Plan:
The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection has been preserved by the National Library in the form of microfilm. 

ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA

Influence
Nineteenth century newspapers have been used repeatedly by academics researching the Caribbean in the nineteenth century. Most research has been in some form or another influenced by data found in these newspapers and as a result it is often the first point of reference for students and historians of nineteenth century Caribbean economy, politics and society. 

Time
The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection covers a momentous period of the Caribbean’s history. This includes the general decline of the sugar planters, decisive slave revolts to topple the system of enslavement, the emancipation of the enslaved people, immigration and indentureship, the Morant Bay Rebellion and the change from the Old Representative System of government to the Crown Colony system. 

Place
The National Library possesses an extensive collection of nineteenth century newspapers that almost spans the entire English speaking Caribbean. These Caribbean Islands were at this point in history, colonies of England and as such their policies were influenced by the vicissitudes of England. 

People
Unlike the Eighteenth Century Collection of Newspapers, which focuses on the white Jamaican plantocracy, the Nineteenth Century Collection is more varied resulting from a wider readership. The nineteenth century witnessed the rise of specialised newspapers dealing with the needs of the disenfranchised free blacks and coloureds. As such it is safe to argue that the newspapers of the nineteenth century give a more holistic view of Caribbean society. 

Subject/Theme
Persons interested in studying the evolution and development of Caribbean society, economy and politics would do well to use the nineteenth century newspapers as a starting point of reference. Other topics that can be examined using these newspapers are immigration and indentureship and agriculture. 

Form/Style
The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection comes from different English speaking Caribbean islands. Accordingly each newspaper would have its own unique layout and as such persons wishing to undertake a comparative study of newspaper layouts would want to take a look at these newspapers. 

Social Value
The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection is of tremendous social value, being the media through which public opinions could be expressed; public opinions that this time would include large segments of the disenfranchised population. Additionally, the nineteenth century marked great social, economic and political changes in the Caribbean and the newspapers would chronicle these changes and the opinions o