The Director of the National Archives, Gavin Emmanuel, has called for greater public interest in Antigua and Barbuda‘s history. Established in 1982, the Archives, located on Factory Road, houses approximately 5 million records, including baptismal documents, slavery lists, and the Codrington papers.
Speaking during Black History Month, Emmanuel highlighted the public’s lack of engagement with the Archives, which he believes has been viewed as a repository of “old papers” rather than a key institution. He stressed the need to better promote Antigua and Barbuda’s history, with digitisation efforts allowing global access to records.
Emmanuel also called for a stronger social media presence and increased awareness in schools. However, he noted that these initiatives require additional funding, not only for the Archives but also for educational courses in history.
He warned of a shortage of historians and archivists in the region, a result of insufficient emphasis on these fields in schools, where STEM subjects dominate. Without a renewed focus, Emmanuel cautioned, there could soon be a void in historical preservation in the region.
