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Archaeology: www.archaeologyantigua.org
Welcome to the Museum library! We look forward to helping with your research ...
The library contains about 3,100 publications in Antigua and Barbuda and the Greater Caribbean, along with photographs, a computerised local newspaper database and a knowledgeable staff to assist you and much more! You may learn more about bush teas, shipwrecks or what High Street looked like in the last century. You could also learn to identify artifacts and perhaps sift through excavation pits!
Here is a very small sampling of historical resources (some of which are reprints or copies) in the Museum's possession:
Breton: 1665 Dictionaire Caraïbe-François (Carib Dictionary). Useful for investigating the Amerindian way of life, original names of the Eastern Caribbean or finding a name for something.
Thome & Kimball: 1838 Emancipation in the West Indies: A Six Month's Tour. This is an original report of the American Anti-Slavery Society.
Anon: 1844 Antigua & the Antiguans. Tells us of post emancipation life and descriptions of various places in Antigua.
Oliver: 1898 The History of the Island of Antigua (3 vols). Concentrates mainly on the colonial Antiguan families
Lowes: 1987 The 1918 Riots: The Planter's Got Well Shook up.
Bush: 1990 Slave Women in Caribbean Society
SOME REFERENCES TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA IN OUR LIBRARY AND THE DOCKYARD MUSEUM |
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Anon Antigua & the Antiguans, Vol I - II 972.974 MAB, Public Library. |
Aspinall, A. Pocket Guide to the West Indies, MAB (Museum of Antigua & Barbuda) |
Bessie Harper Found in her personal papers MAB or Archives |
Bosun Fox's Journal (At the Antigua naval Yard) Museum of Ant.& Bar. |
Bridenbaugh No Peace ...English in Caribb,1627-90 MAB 792.9 |
Burns, Sir Alan History of the British West Indies MAB 972.9 |
Bush, Barbara Slave Women in Caribbean Society MAB: 236.00 |
Buxton, T.F. Buxton Memoirs. edited c.1924 by grandson. |
Coleridge, H.N. Six Months in the West Indies Museum of Ant.& Bar. |
Colonial Office Colonial Reports: Leeward Is. 1953/62 MAB 317.97 |
Crewe, D. Yellow Jack & Worm. (Naval Admin. 1739-1748). MAB 359.8 |
Dunn, Richard Sugar and Slaves MAB 630.729 |
Dyde, Brian History of Antigua: The Unsuspected Isle MAB 972.974 |
Edwards, Bryan History of the West Indies MAB E-25 |
Ferguson, M. The Hart Sisters: Early Caribb. Writers MAB 200.00 |
Gannon, J.P. Papers relating to captured Africans MAB-G5 |
Gaspar, David Bondmen and Rebels. |
Gloucester Records Office, D 1610,Vol I. Museum of Ant.& Bar. |
Goodwin, C. Sugar, Time and Englishmen MAB |
Gordon, Sally Household Economic Strategies MAB F17 |
Gurney, J. J. A Winter in the West Indies DYM 910 |
Hall, Douglas Barbuda. Private Property 972.43 Pub. Library. MAB |
Harris, David R. Plants, Animal&Man in the Outer L.Is. - 574.5 Museum of Ant.& Bar. |
Hart(pub)1836 A Catechism of Morals, Social & Civil MAB M4 |
Historical Society Newsletter |
Henry, Paget (Ed.) Antigua and Barbuda Forum MAB 972.974'005' |
Hood, Adm. 1803/05 His letters to Commissioner Lane at the Antigua Naval Yard |
Horsford Antigua Almanacs,1843,1872,1878. MAB 317.9 |
Horsford, John A Voice from the West Indies J. Fuller |
Lazarus-Black Legitimate Acts & Illegal Encounters in Ant. & Bar. 972.974'043' |
Lowe, Robson The Codrington Correspondence,1743-1851 Public Library. MAB |
Lowenthal & Clarke Slave-Breeding in Barbuda: The Past of a Negro Myth MAB S-47 |
Lowes, Susan The 1918 Riots:" Them Planters Got well shook up. MAB |
Luffman c.1787 His Letters in Oliver MAB & DYM |
Mannix, Daniel Black Cargoes: History of the At; antic Slave Trade MAB 326 |
Margetson, R. The Cultural Heritage of Ant. & Bar. Cultural Office |
Marx, Robert Shipwrecks of the W. Hemisphere, 1492-1825. MAB & DYM |
Mary Prince The History of Mary Prince, Slave, by herself. MAB 236 |
Matthias:1988 Moravian Unity Synod 1988. MAB 972.974 |
Maynard, G. History of the Moravian Church, MAB E56. |
Moreau J-P. Guide des Tresors archeologiques sous-marin MAB |
Museum Journal of Barbados Mus. & Hist. Soc. Museum of Ant.& Bar. |
Nagatz Guide for the Study of Caribbean History MAB 972.974 |
Naval Officers Antigua Navy Yard Correspondence in Nelson's D/Yd Ref. Library Vol. I - From Naval Officer Antigua Yard 1755 - 1794 Vol. II - ditto Jun 1795 - May 1800 Vol. III - ditto May 1800 - Jun 1810 Vol. IV - ditto Jun 1810 - Jan 1824 Vol. V - Navy Board 1758 - Dec 1781 Jan 1824 - 1825 Vol. VI - ditto Dec 1781 - 1784 (Some ref. Capt. Nelson) Vol. VII - Expense Book |
New Yorker A Reporter at Large: Ancient Rights MAB B-34 |
Newspaper Antigua Newsletter of 1946 & 1947 MAB N17 |
Norie, J.W.: 1836 W.I. Directory for Navigating Caribb. Museum of Ant.& Bar. |
Oliver, Vere: 1894 History of the Island of Antigua. Vol I.Archives Office, MAB |
Sanders, Ron Ant. & Bar, Little Bit of Paradise":1993 MAB |
Sanders:1984 An End to Racism, Beginning of Humanism. MAB |
Sheriden, R.B. Letters from a Sugar Plantation,1739/58. 972 MAB 972.974 |
Smith, Keithlyn & Fernando. To Shoot Hard Labour:Life & Times of Samuel Smith. MAB |
Southey, T. Chronological History of the W.I. MAB 972.901 |
Thomas, Aaron His Journal. Ref: HASNL#67. Copies DYM & Internet. |
Thome&Kimball Emancipation in the West Indies: A Six Months Tour: 1838 MAB 326 |
Tudway Papers. Various Letters from Parham Hill Plantation,1752-1807. MAB |
Wallace&Hinds Our West African Heritage MAB 960 |
Walvin, James Black Ivory MAB 236 |
Watkins, Fred.: 1924 Handbook of the Leeward Islands MAB 972.974 |
Watters, D. R. Codrington Castle, Barbuda, W.I. MAB B36 |
The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda's collections contain many significant artifacts from both prehistoric and historic times. We use a specially written Microsoft Access programme to record these artifacts and to date we have over 4,000 in the database that includes an 'easy search' element.
Some of the most interesting prehistoric artifacts are from the internationally known Jolly Beach, Indian Creek, and the Royall's Amerindian sites as well as many others. In this prehistoric collection are stone axes, shell hand adzes, shell jewelry, whole earthenware containers and sherds with delightful designs.
Probably the most interesting from historic times are those recovered during the reconstruction of the Nelson's Dockyard stone wharf laid down in the 1820's. Found were warship's fittings as deck lights, tools, cannon and bar shot the latter for destroying enemy rigging. The greatest problem in this latter collection is the matter of conserving underwater artifacts, a universal challenge in Caribbean museums.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CARBON DATES LIST
OUR DATABASES
So far, only one of our databases (28 lists totalling 34,800) is on the internet. This is the 'tombstone inscriptions' database, useful for genealogy. This is to be found at Tombstones. (Includes Barbados)
All databases listed below are searchable at the Museum, where limited printouts are available.
[NOT ACTIVE HERE sample only]
Main Menu -To use: go to the Museum in St. John's or use email with your question. These databases are not on the Internet yet, except Tomb Inscriptions, click Tomb Inscriptions.
DATABASE LIST |
All Written in MS Access | |
|
||
Name of database |
Records |
|
Accessions, Museum |
626 |
Includes Dockyard Museum |
Archaeological Congress papers |
810 |
IACA papers read 1961-2001 |
Botany, uses of plants |
601 |
|
Collections |
4,015 |
Includes Dockyard Museum |
Cultural, Antigua & Barbuda |
1,168 |
Music, proverbs, expressions etc. |
Dockyard Buildings, Shirley Hts |
293 |
|
Dockyard Employees |
369 |
|
366 |
Documents in stock, both museums |
|
Historical Persons, Estates |
3,128 |
|
80 |
||
Historical site excavations |
106 |
|
Historical sites |
523 |
Antigua & Barbuda |
History, Antigua |
5,700 |
|
History, Barbuda |
781 |
|
History, Redonda |
152 |
|
History, Sailing Week |
392 |
From 1967 |
Library, Museum |
3,092 |
All books, pubs and papers |
Library, Dockyard |
1,532 |
|
Maps & Plans list |
329 |
Known for Antigua & Barbuda |
Military artifacts |
116 |
Buttons, buckles etc. |
Nat.Geographic titles from 1959 |
2,595 |
|
Naval History |
1,911 |
|
Newspaper articles (current) |
2,683 |
|
Photos, Antigua |
893 |
Search by keyword |
Photos, Dockyard |
232 |
|
Researchers |
505 |
Interests of visitors & those thru mail. |
Shipwrecks |
351 |
|
Tombstone readings, (to 1900) |
1,486 |
On the internet as well. |
25 Oct 03 - TOTAL RECORDS |
34,796 |
|
COMMON MYTHS
By Dr. Reg Murphy
The Arawaks and The Caribs
When the Europeans arrived in the Caribbean, they suggested that the Amerindians
they met and recorded in their journals were two different peoples, the
peaceful Arawaks and the
warring Caribs.
In fact, the true Arawak and Caribs lived side by side in the Guyanas and still do to this day.
The Siboney versus Archaic Peoples
It is commonly
held that the first people who lived on Antigua were the Siboney.
In fact, the Siboney never existed on Antigua. We use the term Archaic People to describe these stone aged settlers.
Columbus landed on Antigua
It is falsely believed that Columbus landed on Antigua and that Santa Maria Hill
near Cedar Grove was named by him.
The reality is that Columbus never landed on the island. On his second voyage in 1493, Columbus sighted Marie Gallant close to Guadeloupe and Dominica and from there headed north, naming many islands in the chain of Lesser Antilles--Santa Maria de Guadeloupe, Santa Maria de Montserrate, Santa Maria la Redonda. It was close to Redonda that Columbus saw Antigua on the horizon and named the island Santa Maria la Antigua. He continued sailing until he reached Hispaniola.
Volcano under the St. John's Cathedral
The Anglican Cathedral in St. John's is thought to be built on a volcano.
In fact, it is actually built on a fossilised reef.
Clarence House was built for
the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV
It is believed
that Clarence House was built for the Duke of Clarence when he visited in his
ship, HMS Pegasus.
In fact, Clarence House was not built until 1806, twenty years after he had come and gone. It was built for the Dockyard Commissioner. It was later called "Clarence House" after the building was used as the Governor's weekend residence.
Nelson's Bed in the Dockyard
"Nelson's Bed" in
the Dockyard Museum is Regency style, about 1820.. Nelson died in 1805,
many years
before the bed was built.
The Caribs were cannibals
Completely false.
The need for the Caribs to be labeled as cannibals was linked with the need for the arriving Europeans obtaining permission for acquiring and exploiting their land.
The Caribs lived in the
Caribbean
...........unlikely, but it’s a long story!
Bat's Cave leads to Dominica
Bat's Cave leads to Dominica and that slaves escaped through it or raiding Carib
warriors, who carried off governors' wives.
False. The depth of water between the islands means that the cave would have to be more than three thousand feet underground.
Definitely false, but what a story!
Barbuda was a Stud Farm
False.
Waladli versus Wadadli
The actual "Carib"
name for Antigua is Wadadli.
In fact the name was Waladli. The mistake occurred when a popular band, wrote a song using Wadadli. From this time on Waladli became Wadadli.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH: www.archaeologyantigua.org
ANTIGUA INFORMATION : www.antiguanice.com
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