In spring 1974, a conference on the Caribbean was held at the Latin American Centre, Liverpool University, convened by Colin Clarke. During 1975 and 1976, further meetings were called by David Lowenthal to discuss the development of Caribbean Studies in the United Kingdom. These led to the establishment of a Society for Caribbean Studies, which held its inaugural meeting at the University of York in 1976. This meeting was attended by some 70 persons from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the United States. The first officers of the Committee of the Society were elected in 1976.
Conferences of the Society have been held in locations around the UK every year since the inaugural meeting of 1976. The early founders and pioneers of the Society have since been recognized as Honorary Life Members, including Professor David Lowenthal and the late Richard Hart (awarded honorary membership in 1989), Professor Colin Clarke (2004), Professor Jean Besson (2010), Professor Gad Heuman (2011), and Professor Gertrud Aub-Buscher (2012).
The Society looks forward to celebrating its fiftieth year in 2026!
With the Society’s fiftieth anniversary in sight we have begun collecting material for our own archive as part of a project to reflect on the history and future of the members, the field, and the Society. Can you help? Do you have photographs and/or documents related to the life and work of the society and our members, speakers and guests past and present which you are happy to share with us?
We are interested in learning about the people, the scholars, and artists past and present who have been a part of the Society for Caribbean Studies over the past five decades. Please take the survey via this link https://forms.gle/1FkLS1xzUCNBXBBc6 and share it with people you know are or have been a part of the society or the conference. We are as keen to hear from ordinary members as past Chairs, volunteers, committee members or Bridget Jones award recipients.
Thank you.