Eric Williams Memorial Collection
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In March of 1998, the Eric Williams Memorial Collection was opened in the
Main Library of the University of West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad. The Collection was officially launched by
General Colin Powell, the former United States Joint Chief of Staff, and Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago .
The Collection consists of two broad categories of materials: a) books; b) papers.
The book collection consists of approximately 7000 volumes
of books and journals covering a wide range of subjects: politics, religion,
philosophy, art, history, music etc. The papers consist of
correspondence, manuscripts, drafts, conference documents, reports, research
notes, photocopies of published material, diaries. These books and papers are
largely for use by academics, however, the Collection also features many of Dr. Williams'
personal items which are on display in a small museum at the Main Library. I was able to
visit the museum on a trip to Trinidad in May 2000 and was fascinated by the humanity he showed
in his correspondence with his wife Suilan and daughter Erica Williams-Connell, who is responsible for bequeathing
her father's personal items to the nation. I had always viewed him as an untouchable, mythical
figure. Now I know that he was just a man.
The Collection will be open to the public from 9am to 1pm on the last two Saturdays of every month
beginning from October 21, 2000. Individuals will be received at those times on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Groups wishing to visit should contact the Main Library at 868-662-2002 (exts. 2131 or 3356) or
via e-mail at webmaster@library.uwi.tt. For more information on the Eric Williams Memorial Collection, please
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