It was an history researcher’s dream, a Caribbean citizen’s joy, and national consciousness exuded everywhere. I experienced that exuberance as I entered the foyer of an institution whose walls displayed a permanent exhibition of pictures, paintings, maps and artefacts, illustrating the history and progress of a Caribbean island commonwealth, from the Lucayan Indian period to post-independence and everything else in between, including the history of the country’s principal industries. It drew me into its world of past and present; its heritage, values, care and preservation; its information and sharing; its hope for the future; its vision and mission.
The welcoming atmosphere continued into the reference and reading room, where a quiet purposefulness presided. Men, women, students, residents and visitors were already captivated by the subject content of the documents. One student equipped with earphones was listening to a CD of the “Voices from the Past” series, about the life of his deceased uncle, whom he had never met. That was a touching scene.
Some were filling out request forms for photocopies or microfilm, or pictures, or learning packages. Others were applying to use the facility for the first time. All around the room were notices of documentary materials available for sale: for example, the “Voices from the Past” CD series, other CDs, historic photographs and maps, and souvenir newspapers. Business was particularly brisk that morning, but there were also useful pamphlets and other free giveaways, like “First Steps in Genealogy.”
4,000-plus documents
That national heritage facility was further supported by a library and search room of over 4,000 documents on the history of the island nation, ranging from the contemporary to slave registers. The oldest document dates back to 1719. An inner subdued room revealed eight microfilm readers, all fully occupied with discerning eyes behind them, focused on the film in view. Other historic multimedia was also available.
Bolstering all that frontline activity were the Conservation Room for repairing, laminating, photography, framing, developing microfilm and more; the Strong Room filled with the oldest and most fragile documents; and the Records Management Centre for the more contemporary records.
On every wall in every room, there were faces and scenes from which I heard voices of the past, teaching and warning. In every department, I saw the connecting thread that held it all together — the staff, all 45 of them, committed, caring, knowledgeable, sharing and welcoming!
Bahamas archives
That, readers, is the current scenario at The Commonwealth of the Bahamas National Archives, and there is a “forward plan” as well. Not far-fetched: right here in the Caribbean! Is that an “unreachable star” for us here? It shouldn’t be, since we are all so positively concerned about preserving our heritage, history and culture, and motivating national consciousness.
It is almost a decade since the Archives and Records Management Unit was established in the Virgin Islands. Perhaps it is a fitting time to assess what we have achieved so far and look at where we would like to be by the 10th anniversary on April 1, 2014, and where we want to be in the next three, five and ten years. For if indeed we are “reaching for the star,” we would need increased committed staff to carry out the normal activities of what is expected of an actively functioning National Archives. We would also need authorities with the vision, the will and the determination to see the development programme through!