CHARLESTOWN,Nevis,March 29, 2016 -- The Executive Director, St. Croix Landmarks Society , Sonia Jacobs Dow last Wednesday told members of the Nevis Historical Conservation Society(NHCS) that her country’s museum has been transformed and now includes exhibits that portray history, traditional values and the recent past.
Mrs Dow was speaking during the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society’s Annual General Meeting held on March 23,2016.
“We have transformed it to one that is inclusive, not only inclusive, but that intentionally seeks to engage people from all parts of the St. Croix community and the broader Virgin Islands. We are now intentionally seeking those who may not see themselves as preservationists, who may not recognize themselves under that label but who are practitioners of Crucian culture, who are interested in our history, interested in the people who came before us, interested in preserving their stories interested in preserving artifacts that may be less well known as well as the grander ones,” she said.
Dow told an attentive audience that local people’s traditional talents and skills are being preserved and exhibited. “These are the people who are closer to the joiners who created the much sought after Crucian furniture. They are close to the traditions, because they live them daily,” she added.
The Executive Director also talked about the importance of a closer collaboration between Nevis and St. Croix societies especially in regard to Alexander Hamilton connection. “We know of how a man of humble beginnings, whose mother was ostracized by society and died leaving two young sons. Alexander Hamilton pursued his dreams and ended up shaping what many refer to as the most influential nation on earth. There is much to be learned from him. I am going home to St. Croix to challenge us to do a better job of telling his story.,” Dow said.
The Executive Director refered to documentation carried out by the St. Croix society of the enslaved Africans. “Where are the stories of the Africans who were enslaved here?”, she asked.
The St. Croix Society has created more than ten new exhibits, including a living museum, which features tradition bearers at the Estate Whim Museum on a daily basis. “After working so hard on traditional exhibits, we are determined to never retire them. Therefore, we initiated an exhibit loan program that allows audiences to see exhibits at our Henry Rohlsen Airport, University of the Virgin Islands and other venues, after they have been replaced by new ones at the Estate Whim Museum,” she said.
Her society is also documenting the recent past. The society recently launched new archives for Virgin Islands veterans, elections and elected officials, to which any veteran any candidate for elected office, whether successful or not can submit photographs and other material. She further explained: “We started these archives because this information was missing from our records. We need to document the recent past, even as we continue to collect and protect records from the distant past. Some day, a research will want to explore what strategies were used by candidates. He or she will want to know more about the successful candidates and their service records.” She said the driving principle for St. Croix society is a sustained commitment to inclusive preservation .
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