The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything under the sun.

On Feb. 15, I deposited the first selection of my prized documents with the Virgin Islands Studies Institute at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in order to provide public access to research materials. I believe that the information they contain will stir and motivate the minds of those with an interest in VI culture and history to write the stories that the documents will inspire. Their stories will add to the greater VI story.

Of course, this is just a “temporary deposit” at the college. I had thought that by now I would have been able to present the documents directly to the National Library or the National Archives, the two main institutions with which I have spent much of my working life. Regretfully, neither is functionally nor efficiently ready to receive them. However, when they are ready, the documents will be turned over to them.

Because I am still researching and writing myself, I cannot empty my library of all my research materials. Therefore, this deposit is just the first of several that I intend to make.

Document list

Here is the list of documents deposited so far:

• Slave Trade viz Papers relating to Captured Negroes at TORTOLA. Mr. Dougan and Major Moody. (Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed June 12, 1827. Number 462.)

•  The Virgin Islands Official Bulletin. 10th Edition to 21st Edition. Edited by Commissioner D.P. Wailing. 12 issues, from January 1942 to December 1942. (Type written).

• A Cultural Experience: Stories and Poems. Edited by Verna E. Penn. Award-winning stories and poems submitted to the Creative Arts Festival, 1979 (with writers’ and performers’ profiles). Published by the Public Library, Road Town, Tortola.

• Reminiscences: Creative Arts Festival. Edited by Verna E. Penn. Award-winning stories and poems submitted to the Creative Arts Festival, 1981. Published by The Public Library, Road Town, Tortola.

• Nineteen prints of artwork submitted to the Creative Arts Festival, 1979/80. Artists: Victor Fahie, Road Town Primary School, Joseph Hodge, Andrew Fahie, Lisa Penn, Andrew Lettsome, Irma Smith, Reynell Fraser, Meston Malone and Verna Penn.

• Tales of the Virgin Islands: Literary Award Winners. Edited by V. Penn Moll. Public Library, 1985.

• Virgin Islands Historical Documents. Edited by Verna Penn Moll. Vol 1. No. 1. March-April 1984.

• Virgin Islands Historical Documents. Edited by Verna Penn Moll. Vol 1. No 2. May-June 1984.

• Virgin Islands Historical Documents. Edited by Verna Penn Moll. Vol 1. No. 4. October- December 1984.

• Virgin Islands Historical Documents. Edited by Verna Penn Moll. Vol 2. Nos. 3 and 4. December 1985.

• Virgin Islands Historical Documents. Edited by Bernadine Louis. Vol 3. No 1. May 1990.

• Archives: A Resource for National Development in a Microstate with Special Reference to the Virgin Islands (British). Verna E. Penn, 1982.

• A master’s dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master of Librarian, Information and Archives Studies. Loughborough University of Technology, 1981.

 

Ms. Penn Moll is a former chief librarian and chief records management officer for the Virgin Islands government.