West Indies Federal Archives Centre

We are truly excited for this year’s theme for International Archives Week (8-12 June 2026) - : Rights, Memory & Futures!

: The West Indies Federation (1958–1962) was officially inaugurated on 3 January 1958?

Although the Federation was established by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956, the formal inauguration of its Federal Legislature took place later, on 22 April 1958, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and was officiated by Princess Margaret.

The 1956 Act provided for the creation of a Federal Government, Legislature, Supreme Court, and other federal authorities. It also led to the dissolution of the West Indian Court of Appeal (1919) and the British Honduras (Court of Appeal) Act (1881), replacing them with a new Federal Supreme Court to serve the Federation’s member territories.
This landmark legislation was followed by two key legal instruments:

The West Indies (Federation) Order in Council, 1957 (31 July 1957), which outlined the Constitution of the Federation; and

The West Indies (Federation) (Commencement) Order in Council, 1957 (13 December 1957), which declared that the Federation would officially come into force on 3 January 1958.

Together, these instruments marked a significant moment in the Caribbean’s early journey toward regional integration.

In the Photograph: Lord and Lady Hailes entering the Federal Legislative Council Chamber

This photograph is part of the West Indies Federal Archives Federal Information Service Photographic Collection.

References:
British Caribbean Federation Act, 1956. laws.gov.tt, 1956, 5. Yuille’s Printerie, Trinidad by Authority of the Government of the West Indies.

The West Indies (Federation) Order in Council, 1957. laws.gov.tt, 1957, 72. Yuille’s Printerie, Trinidad by Authority of the Government of the West Indies.

The West Indies (Federation) (Commencement) Order in Council, 1957. laws.gov.tt, 1957, 1. Yuille’s Printerie, Trinidad by Authority of the Government of the West Indies.

Goodbye 2025.

As we reflect on the year gone by, we are reminded that New Year’s Eve traditions across the Caribbean may vary—from attending church services, to Old Year’s Night parties, making resolutions, or simply staying home, but one thing remains constant: we welcome the New Year surrounded by family and friends.

Pictured above are members of the Federal Government bidding farewell to Lord and Lady Hailes as they departed by ship for their vacation in 1959, a moment that captures both the personal and public rituals of transition that mark the turning of the year.

We also wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has followed our “Stories in Photos” from June to now. Your engagement and support have helped bring these moments from the past to life.

We look forward to welcoming you again in 2026 as we continue our journey of highlighting our illustrious Caribbean past through the Cave Hill Campus Collection, the West Indies Federal Collection, and other significant holdings such as the Ramphal Papers.

Warm wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year.

This photograph is part of the West Indies Federal Archives Federal Information Service Photographic Collection.

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from WIFAC! ✨🎄

As we celebrate this festive season, we take a moment to look back through the pages of history. Here’s a Christmas image published 100 years ago in the Port of Spain Gazette, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s early newspapers.

Originally established in 1821 as the Trinidad Gazette, the paper changed its name in 1825 to the Port of Spain Gazette to avoid confusion with the Trinidad Royal Gazette—the official newspaper of the colony (today known as the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette).

The Port of Spain Gazette served the public for over a century before ceasing publication in 1956. Images like this remind us how newspapers not only reported the news, but also captured the spirit of everyday life and celebrations of their time.

From all of us at WIFAC, we wish you a joyful Christmas and thank you for continuing to journey with us through our region’s rich documentary heritage. 🎄📜

Happy Christmas Eve from all of us at WIFAC!

Today, we are delighted to highlight the front page of a Christmas Eve newspaper from Curaçao, shared with us by our colleagues at the Archivo Nashonal Kòrsou / Nationaal Archief Curacao. We extend our sincere thanks to them for providing this beautiful digital print.

Although Curaçao was not a member of the West Indies Federation, it formed part of the Dutch Caribbean—later the Netherlands Antilles—and today stands as a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, charting its own distinct historical and cultural path.

Importantly, on July 28, 2024, Curaçao became the sixth Associate Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This status strengthens regional cooperation and connection, integrating Curaçao into the broader Caribbean family while respecting its unique governance structure.

This historic newspaper gives us a charming glimpse into what life in Curaçao looked like on Christmas Eve exactly 100 years ago—a window into the island’s traditions, stories, and spirit during the holiday season.

Warmest wishes to all as we celebrate the richness of our shared Caribbean heritage!

As we continue our Christmas series, today we highlight a page from "The Barbadian" on 23 December 1825, a newspaper printed in Bridgetown, Barbados between 1822 and 1861. These surviving copies are preserved at the Barbados Archives, having previously been held at the National Library and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society before their transfer to the Archives in the late 1960s.

The Barbadian was founded by Abel Clinckett (1775–1854), who served as Editor-Proprietor. From 1855 onward, the paper was issued “for the Widow and Administratrix of the late Abel Clinckett,” with John C. Calliard listed as printer. It was published biweekly, generally on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with some periods (1824–1831) printed instead on Tuesdays and Fridays, at the Barbadian Office on High Street, later relocating to Prince William Henry Street. The annual subscription was six dollars, payable in advance, and each issue consisted of one folio (four pages), with some editions including supplements.

As a primary source, The Barbadian is indispensable for understanding life in 19th-century Barbados, then a British colony and a slave-based society. Its pages document everyday life and the island’s social fabric: personalities, commerce, governance, race relations, religion, politics, education, entertainment, and the economy. They also contain advertisements for the sale of enslaved people and notices seeking the recapture of those who escaped—difficult but vital records for understanding Barbados’ past.

The page featured here offers a vivid glimpse into life in Barbados 200 years ago, reminding us of the island’s complex and layered history during the holiday season.

References:

“The Barbadian, December 23, 1825.” Digital Library of the Caribbean, https://dloc.com/AA00071028/00311/images/0

“‘The Barbadian’ Newspaper Collection, 1822-1861.” British Library Endangered Archives Programme, https://eap.bl.uk/collection/EAP1251-1.

66 years ago, marks the ceremonial opening of the Federal Legislature of the West Indies. The Federal Parliament of the short-lived West Indies Federation consisted of two houses - the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House).

The House of Representatives (Lower House) consisted of forty-five (45) elected members while there were nineteen (19) appointed members of the Senate (Upper House). The Governor-General summoned and appointed two senators from each territory except for Montserrat which only had one appointed senate representative.

The President of the Senate was the presiding officer of the Upper House and was assisted by a Vice President. Allen Montgomery Lewis (St Lucia) was the first President of the Senate, taking the oath of office in 1958. He was followed by Arnott Cato (Barbados) whose term of office lasted from 1959 to the dissolution of the Federation in 1962.

This pamphlet is part of the West Indies Federal Archives Collection.

References:

Alexander-Gooding, Sharon. The Records of West Indies Federation and the acquisition of the archives by the University of the West Indies (UWI). Decolonizing the Caribbean Record: An Archives Reader, edited by Jeannette Bastian, John Aarons and Stanley H. Griffin. Litwin Books, 2018.

Grey, Ian. The history of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 1911 – 1985. Gower, 1986.

The West Indies (Federation) Order in Council, 1957. laws.gov.tt, 1957, 72. Yuille’s Printerie, Trinidad by Authority of the Government of the West Indies.

: Governor’s Residence, Trinidad, 22 March 1961. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill visits Port of Spain, Trinidad during a cruise aboard the Onassis yacht Christina. Seated in the photograph from left to right: Sir Grantley Adams, Winston Churchill and Dr. Eric Williams. Standing are Sir John S. Mordecai, Lord Hailes and Lady Hailes.

This photograph is part of the West Indies Federal Archives Federal Information Service Photographic Collection.

: As we continue our series celebrating Graduation Season across the campuses of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), today we shine the spotlight on the UWI Global Campus.

The 2025 Graduation Ceremony will be held virtually on 8 November 2025, continuing the Campus’ tradition of connecting graduates across the Caribbean and beyond.

This feature was written and curated by our colleagues at the Records and Information Management (RIM) Unit, in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications Department, The UWI Global Campus.

The RIM Unit is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Campus’ records management programme including the development of policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the design, implementation, and maintenance of systems for managing records in all formats throughout their lifecycle. Learn more about their work here: global.uwi.edu/registry/rim

🌎 A Historic First for The UWI Global Campus:

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) celebrated a historic first on October 17, 2009, when its newly established Open Campus (now Global Campus) hosted its inaugural Graduation Ceremony in Saint Lucia. Approximately 150 of over 700 graduates from fifteen (15) Caribbean countries were formally presented to the then Chancellor, Professor the Hon. Sir George Alleyne.

This event was attended by four Caribbean Heads of State, representing Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada, along with Ministers of Education from Montserrat and St Kitts and Nevis.

In his address, Chancellor Alleyne spoke to the graduates about leadership qualities and the importance of maintaining connections with each other and the University. He noted that the Open Campus was established to expand access to higher education across the Region.

Two distinguished Caribbean citizens were awarded honorary degrees: the late Honourable Sir Dr Dunstan St Omer renowned Saint Lucian artist, cultural hero and designer of Saint Lucia’s national flag, who was conferred with the Doctor of Letters (DLitt) and Dr Peggy Antrobus, a Grenadian/Vincentian, social worker and lifetime advocate of the role of women in development, received the Doctor of Laws (LLD).

Valedictorian Ms. Denise Gordon of Montserrat, a first-class honours graduate in Management Studies, expressed pride to be a part of the first graduating class, noting, "We salute the vision of The UWI, which has facilitated the opportunity for us to further our studies with the high standards for which this institution is well-known. As the first graduates of the Open Campus, we have left behind a legacy."

The ceremony was filled with the pomp and pageantry that mark all UWI graduations and was streamed live online, allowing all graduating students, their friends and family members to share in this historic occasion.

Photograph courtesy the Marketing and Communications Department
The UWI Global Campus: Platform Party Open Campus, October 2009.

: As we prepare to close the curtains on another memorable Graduation Season at The University of the West Indies, we’re taking a step back to 1985, capturing the Academic Procession at the Cave Hill Campus Graduation Ceremony.

A timeless reminder of UWI’s proud traditions of scholarship, excellence, and regional unity.

This photograph is part of the Cave Hill Campus Photographic Collection.