On the 9th of February, Lorraine and I will be going on a tour of Belmont, through the Freetown Foundation. This will help greatly with our research and interview questions. I am very excited about this.
Sly.
Friday, 31 January 2014
National Archives & Freetown
Lorraine and I spent the entire day at the National Archives trying to excavate pictures and information of the Queen's park Savannah, the Peschiers, the Boissière, the Stollmyers and Belmont. Unfortunately, the book on the Boissière Peschiers and the Stollmeyers were not available. However, a descendant of Henry Peschier, who happens to be a historical tour guide, was at the National Archives and he has agreed to do an interview with us and he will take us to the Peschier's grave site in the QPS.
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Progress on Documentary
I sent the interview questions to Kathryn Stollmeyer who said that she will print and review and get back to me. She also sent a link on my facebook page with more pictures of her family.
As for Khafra Kambon, he responded to my email quite positively. He said, " I am certainly prepared to do the interview. I will call you. My number however is 633-9236."
Things seem to be shaping up this far. I hope that the end product of this documentary is what I envisioned.
Sly.
As for Khafra Kambon, he responded to my email quite positively. He said, " I am certainly prepared to do the interview. I will call you. My number however is 633-9236."
Things seem to be shaping up this far. I hope that the end product of this documentary is what I envisioned.
Sly.
Monday, 20 January 2014
Further Research: Discovering the Unknown
After doing extensive research, I think we need to provide more information on slaves in Trinidad. Documentaries have been provided on these colonial houses, with little perspective from the African Community, since they were the ones to pour their sweat and blood into building these colonial structures, with no acknowledgement. Therefore I would like to highlight the history of individual slaves, such as
"ZuZule who was a domestic slave and nanny in the household of Henri de Boissiere in Maraval... She bore her master four children-two sons and two daughters- and lived to a ripe old age well into the 1890s as the ‘matriarch’ of the coloured branch of the De Boissière family which counted among its descendants, the first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric E. Williams who was the great-grandson of Zu Zule."
The challenge is that information on slaves is not documented as much as the colonialist, therefore it will require extensive research, but I am up to the challenge.
I am hoping to interview Khafra Kambon, leader of the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) as well as Historian Carl Campbell. I really want to push the envelope since too many times we glorify colonialists who give "His-Story" which may not be the "echt story." Sadly the secondary level school history was misleading and remote from the truth. Note:While I do want to highlight the colonial edifices and the characters behind the men who owned these structures, I also want to resurrect slaves out of the "yus massa" era and into a liberated 21st century, where they can freely speak of their experiences (exploitation, trials, and persecutions) through these historians.
I will do research on some of Kafra's and Carl's books, so that I can ask them sensible questions. I will keep you posted with this progress. Oh P.S. Lorraine and I will be going to the National Archives on Wed to do some research. Check out the pic of a COLOURED NURSE AND WHITE CHILDREN In TRINIDAD CIRCA 1885.
Sly!
"ZuZule who was a domestic slave and nanny in the household of Henri de Boissiere in Maraval... She bore her master four children-two sons and two daughters- and lived to a ripe old age well into the 1890s as the ‘matriarch’ of the coloured branch of the De Boissière family which counted among its descendants, the first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric E. Williams who was the great-grandson of Zu Zule."
The challenge is that information on slaves is not documented as much as the colonialist, therefore it will require extensive research, but I am up to the challenge.
I am hoping to interview Khafra Kambon, leader of the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) as well as Historian Carl Campbell. I really want to push the envelope since too many times we glorify colonialists who give "His-Story" which may not be the "echt story." Sadly the secondary level school history was misleading and remote from the truth. Note:While I do want to highlight the colonial edifices and the characters behind the men who owned these structures, I also want to resurrect slaves out of the "yus massa" era and into a liberated 21st century, where they can freely speak of their experiences (exploitation, trials, and persecutions) through these historians.
I will do research on some of Kafra's and Carl's books, so that I can ask them sensible questions. I will keep you posted with this progress. Oh P.S. Lorraine and I will be going to the National Archives on Wed to do some research. Check out the pic of a COLOURED NURSE AND WHITE CHILDREN In TRINIDAD CIRCA 1885.
Sly!
Sunday, 19 January 2014
Plan Outline
This Documentary will not provide in-depth information on all the mansions around the Queens Park Savannah. It will zoom into the life of Conrad Frederic Stollmeyer , his son Charles Conrad Stollmyer Snr Charles' children and grandchild Kathryn Stollmeyer with whom we will conduct the interview.
Also, an interview will be conducted with one of the Boissière family members. Up to early last year the house was up for sale under the terms and conditions of not demolishing the structure, but recently Lorraine noticed that the perimeters of the house was galvanized. This should make for an interesting interview, although no contact was made with Greta Elliott, the descendant of Charles Edward Hamilton Boissière, original owner of the Ginger Bread House( Boissière House).
The Documentary will however start with the Peshiers. Victor Perhier's niece was able to trace the family's lineage to Henry Peshier, who owned 232 acres of land, north of Port of Spain, which included the Queens Park Savannah. The interview will cover the 6,600 sqft, walled in cemetery intended for the Peschier descendants, that still exists today in the QPS.
In this documentary, I would like to cover the edifice of the Woodbrook Tax office, where residents used to pay their land rent and property taxes. It is now a school, but to this day the antique chest of draws can be seen. The structure stands on Maurray St corner, but it is almost invisible or it's purpose is not really known.
Then, to show a balance the founder of Freetown Foundation, Elton Scantalburry will be interviewd.
He is a member of the Rada movement in Belmont, formerly known as Freetown, since the freed Africans settled in that area.The movement started in 1855 by Robert Antoine from Dahomey (Benin) , Africa. I would like for viewers to see the other side of colonialism.
Pauline Phillip is one of the members of Citizen's for Conservation. She or one of the members of CFC will shed some insight on the progress of the restoration of the mansions but also share CFC's reason for starting such an organization.
Historian, Michael Anthony will add credibility to this documentary by his information on the above mentioned.
The National Archives will allow us to see inside some of these structures as most of them are not accessible.
Lorraine suggested that we do a miniature a colonial house. I love the idea but I suggested a miniature of the Queens Park Savannah in the late 1700's which should include carriages and the genteel, cows grazing and possibly a nearby plantation. The National Archives will help us get a better visual for the designer. Another suggestion by Lorraine is a picture book done mainly in sepia/black and white.
This is basically the outline of the plan. Questions will be sent to interviewees before hand, but more research is being done before that step is taken.
Sly.
Also, an interview will be conducted with one of the Boissière family members. Up to early last year the house was up for sale under the terms and conditions of not demolishing the structure, but recently Lorraine noticed that the perimeters of the house was galvanized. This should make for an interesting interview, although no contact was made with Greta Elliott, the descendant of Charles Edward Hamilton Boissière, original owner of the Ginger Bread House( Boissière House).
The Documentary will however start with the Peshiers. Victor Perhier's niece was able to trace the family's lineage to Henry Peshier, who owned 232 acres of land, north of Port of Spain, which included the Queens Park Savannah. The interview will cover the 6,600 sqft, walled in cemetery intended for the Peschier descendants, that still exists today in the QPS.
In this documentary, I would like to cover the edifice of the Woodbrook Tax office, where residents used to pay their land rent and property taxes. It is now a school, but to this day the antique chest of draws can be seen. The structure stands on Maurray St corner, but it is almost invisible or it's purpose is not really known.
Then, to show a balance the founder of Freetown Foundation, Elton Scantalburry will be interviewd.
He is a member of the Rada movement in Belmont, formerly known as Freetown, since the freed Africans settled in that area.The movement started in 1855 by Robert Antoine from Dahomey (Benin) , Africa. I would like for viewers to see the other side of colonialism.
Pauline Phillip is one of the members of Citizen's for Conservation. She or one of the members of CFC will shed some insight on the progress of the restoration of the mansions but also share CFC's reason for starting such an organization.
Historian, Michael Anthony will add credibility to this documentary by his information on the above mentioned.
The National Archives will allow us to see inside some of these structures as most of them are not accessible.
Lorraine suggested that we do a miniature a colonial house. I love the idea but I suggested a miniature of the Queens Park Savannah in the late 1700's which should include carriages and the genteel, cows grazing and possibly a nearby plantation. The National Archives will help us get a better visual for the designer. Another suggestion by Lorraine is a picture book done mainly in sepia/black and white.
This is basically the outline of the plan. Questions will be sent to interviewees before hand, but more research is being done before that step is taken.
Sly.
The Plan
The commencement of this blog is a bit late due to PC issues at home, nevertheless I was taking the time to gather my thoughts and do some further research for this project. Further is underscored because this idea was birthed some three semesters ago. I didn't want to pursue it last semester because I felt that my group members were not mature enough and mostly would have lacked the appreciation and passion for such a topic.
So what is this plan? It is to resurrect the echt significance and history of seemingly elusive colonial structures and vestiges of the African community during the mid 19th century to the early 20th century in Trinidad through descendants of colonialists and descendants of freed Africans, historians and members of Citizens's for Conservation.
I wanted to include the Ministry as last Wednesday, the Express shed light on the restoration project of Hayes court, but based on the last class project, the bureaucracy was so overwhelming to interview a minster, I decided to rule out that idea. (In another blog I will outline the ideas/plan. )
Lorraine Goring and I have excellent work chemistry and she is also very passionate about colonial houses and we will work together on this project.
Sly.
So what is this plan? It is to resurrect the echt significance and history of seemingly elusive colonial structures and vestiges of the African community during the mid 19th century to the early 20th century in Trinidad through descendants of colonialists and descendants of freed Africans, historians and members of Citizens's for Conservation.
I wanted to include the Ministry as last Wednesday, the Express shed light on the restoration project of Hayes court, but based on the last class project, the bureaucracy was so overwhelming to interview a minster, I decided to rule out that idea. (In another blog I will outline the ideas/plan. )
Lorraine Goring and I have excellent work chemistry and she is also very passionate about colonial houses and we will work together on this project.
Sly.
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