Two Hundred Year Old Register of Slaves to go on Exhibit at National Museum

(St. Christopher National Trust) St. Kitts and Nevis – November 29, 2017: One of the country’s most important surviving documents from the 19th century will go on public exhibit for the first time this weekend at the National Museum.

The St. Christopher National Trust is collaborating with the National Archives to mount the limited-time exhibition of the St. Christopher Original Register of Slaves.

The Exhibit opens on Saturday December 2nd and runs until Sunday January 8th.

The Slave Trade with Africa was abolished in 1807 and with European countries and other colonies in 1811. The first Register of Slaves was compiled in 1817 to ensure that enslaved persons were not smuggled into the island.

Over 20,000 names are recorded in the register, the pages of which are still in good condition.

The majority of persons listed in the 1817 Registry were Creole (born in the Americas) with about 3200 registered as being born in Africa, of those, 2886 entries record specific ethnic/regional information.

The 200-year old St. Christopher Original Register of Slaves has been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Project, which is a listing of critical documentary heritage from around the globe.

The Register, whether census or inventory, was the first time that the enslaved population of St. Kitts was enumerated by name, gender, age, colour, place of birth and employment. In effect, it gave the enslaved individualized identities.

The National Museum will be open every day during the exhibition period except for Boxing Day, New Years Day and January 2nd.

Opening hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission to the Museum for non-member residents/nationals is EC$5.00 and for visitors US$5.00.

Entrance to the Slave Register Exhibit is an additional EC$5.00 for residents/nationals and US$5.00 for visitors.