Another Special Collection Acquired

The P.J. Patterson Collection officially received by The University of the West Indies.
The Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, ON, OCC, PC, QC, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, on Tuesday, April 25, 2018, formally deposited a collection of papers with The University of the West Indies (UWI). At a function held at the Regional Headquarters the Vice-Chancellor receiving the collection on behalf of The UWI described Mr. Patterson as “… an extraordinary history maker….”. The UWI, prides itself on being the Caribbean region’s premier research institution, the Mona Library will be the home for the collection.

“It is my view that the documents being handed over do not belong to me… I am a guardian … making it available for future generations”, says Mr. Patterson. “I thank the Librarian and her staff for making this possible”.
The PJ Patterson Collection comprises approximately 35,322 documents, including; correspondence, minutes, cabinet submissions, published and unpublished materials, reports, speeches and newspaper clippings. These materials were largely generated during Mr. Patterson’s tenure as prime minister of Jamaica (1992- 2006). 

The subject coverage of the P.J. Patterson Collection is representative of many contemporary topics. The Collection includes material on various Jamaican public bodies; national infrastructure projects; CARICOM initiatives, and regional and international trade agreements and treaties.
Notable themes covered by documents comprising the collection include:
•    Highway 2000 development
•    Emancipation Park development
•    ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement (2000)
•    CARICOM Haiti initiative (2004)
•    Caribbean Court of Justice  (CCJ) (2005)
•    Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) (2006)
•    ICC Cricket World Cup (2007)

How do you get access?
This collection may be consulted in the Elsa Goveia Reading Room located in the West Indies and Special Collections of the Mona Library.

To learn more about the collection, contact Mrs. Jessica Lewis-Marshall, Head, West Indies and Special Collections, The UWI, Mona Library at 876-970-6594 or email, jessica.lewis02@uwimona.edu.jm