21 October 2011
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Documents that give a rare glimpse into what life was like for Caribbean labourers more than 100 years ago have now been added to
Documents that give a rare glimpse into what life was like for Caribbean labourers more than 100 years ago have now been added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
In collaboration with archives, museums and libraries from countries as diverse as Jamaica to the USA, The National Archives for England and Wales submitted documentary heritage to UNESCO that chronicle the mass movement of West Indians to Panama and include historically significant events such as the construction of the Panama Canal.
The collection brings to light the Caribbean’s connections with Central America and North America and the mobility of people in the region at the time describing the movement of more than 100,000 West Indians who made new lives in Panama. For many, this was the first opportunity to take control of their own lives and seek their destiny abroad.
To find out more about the Memory of the World Register, see Amanda Randall's feature in the July 2011 issue of Family Tree. Back issues are available from our shop or call 0845 519 0228. You can also purchase digital back issues from www.pocketmags.com, the App Store and Android Marketplace.