“A Commitment to Caribbean History & Cultural Heritage in Hartford: Digitizing the Lloyd Best Archive in Trinidad and Tobago”- Hartford History Lecture Series

Channon Miller, Assistant Professor of American Studies and History, Trinity College

Dr. Christina Bleyer, Watkinson Library, Trinity College

The Watkinson Library at Trinity College has partnered with the Lloyd Best Institute of the Caribbean to digitize the Lloyd Best Archive. Using our project as an example, this presentation explores post-custodial archiving as a transformative approach to collecting, preserving, and providing access to archival materials, contrasting it with traditional archival practices rooted in colonial attitudes. It emphasizes digital technology’s role in preserving archives while respecting creators’ agency and community narratives.

Unlike traditional methods focused on physical possession and so-called “expert” interpretation, post-custodial archiving fosters collaborative, equitable partnerships. This model empowers communities to maintain intellectual and physical custody of their histories, ensuring accurate representation in the historical record. Post-custodial archiving promotes epistemic sovereignty, allowing marginalized voices to shape their own narratives within global archival frameworks making a deep commitment to the preservation and dissemination of Caribbean history and cultural heritage here in Hartford.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

For more information or to inquire about special accommodations please call(860) 522-6766.

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The 2024 Hartford History Lecture series is supported by funding through CT Humanities in alignment with the America 250 | CT Commission. Special thanks to our partners at the Hartford Heritage Project and UCONN Department of History.