Constitution and Enrichment of the Cousins Hereward Postcard Collection at the University of the West Indies Mona Library: Lessons Learned

Abstract

The incorporation of visual resources in academia is becoming increasingly popular. The Cousins Hereward Postcard Collection comprises 212 postcards that depict social, historical, cultural, and economic activities in Jamaica during the period 1900–1912. Illustrations include social conditions of the working class and peasantry, natural history elements, and aspects of language and culture. The postcards also cover transportation and production of primary agricultural produce. Local folk forms are represented in a series of alphabet cards and Jamaican proverbs that use the local dialect. The collection was digitized, and metadata were added. The article also discusses lessons learned from this project.