Edgar Challenger Library opens exhibit for Independence
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett demonstrating one of his many cultural artifacts |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-WINSTON ‘Zack’ Nisbett, Curator of the International House Museum and Edgar Challenger Library is encouraging citizens of the Federation to visit his establishment located at the corner of Central and College Streets in Basseterre for a lesson in the “real history of St. Kitts & Nevis”.
Titled ‘The Real Historic and Cultural Awakening Independence Exhibition’, Nisbett stated that he found it imperative to open a cultural exhibit for the celebration of Independence that was comprehensive and had no political biases.
“This exhibition, to my mind, is the most historical and most significant because it states quite emphatically that we should respect all of our culture,” said Nisbett.
Having inherited the lifelong work of historian Edgar Challenger, Nisbett has continued to expand and categorize the broadly comprehensive collection. “What we have here is gold and we are sitting on it. Our cultural, historic, social and economic values are second to none,” he told SKNVibes.com.
Included in the collection are Challenger’s 1921 motorcar, several appliances dating as far back as the early 1800’s, various animals
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Instruments from St. Kitts’ first string band
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that are indigenous to the Federation, and a working, crank-wound record player. Additionally, there are thousands of photographs and documents that contain a wealth of information about the people and cultural history of both St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to Nisbett, within his records he has everything from deeds of land ownership to genealogies dating as far back as the days of slavery.
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| A fraction of the museum’s book collection |
“We should motivate those persons who have the capability of providing betterment culturally and socially so that the visitors who come to our shores would be more appreciative of what we have,” said Nisbett.
“We were the first colony established in the West Indies and have a very rich history to offer.”
He stated that his exhibition has such a depth and breadth of information that he has even had professors from international universities stay with him to study the documents, sometimes well into the early morning hours and for weeks at a time.
“The thing about these artifacts is that you cannot get them back once they are gone, and that is why I am doing this,” Nisbett stated when asked about his dedication to the museum.
He also thanked his sister who resides in the United States, Leone Nisbett for providing continued financial aid to his preservation project.
Persons who are interested in taking a tour of ‘The Real Historic and Cultural Awakening Independence Exhibition’ may do so during normal business hours daily until Independence Day on September 19th and paying a nominal fee of $5.
