Caribbean Artists Movement

IDENTITY STATEMENT AREA

Reference code(s): CAM

Title: Caribbean Artists Movement

Date(s): 1966 - 1972

Level of description: Fond

Extent and medium of the unit of description: 13 archive boxes

CONTEXT AREA

Name of creator(s):

Administrative/Biographical history: The Caribbean Artists Movement was started in London in 1966 by the Trinidadian poet and historian Edward Kamau Brathwaite. Its purpose was to provide a forum for writers, artists and critics from the English-speaking Caribbean resident in the United Kingdom. The Movement ran for five years and organised two international conferences, which were held at the University of Kent in 1967 and 1968.

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer: Much of the material in this collection was assembled by the writer Anne Walmsley for her book on the history of the CAM published in 1992, entitled 'The Caribbean Artists Movement 1966-1972: a Literary and Cultural History' (ISBN: 187320101X).

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

Scope and content: The collection includes administrative correspondence, 1966-1967; photocopied correspondence of Edward Kamau Brathwaite, November 1966-December 1967, relating to the formation of the Caribbean Artists Movement and its first year of work; transcripts of correspondence of principle members of the Movement, namely Andrew Salkey, Louis James, Marina Maxwell and John La Rose, 1966-1972; CAM files including finances, publicity and conference material, 1967-1972; CAM Newsletters, nos. 1-12, March/April 1967-August 1970 and CAM (Jamaica) Newsletter no. 1, n.d.; conference programme, typescripts of presentations and transcripts of discussions and readings for the 1st CAM Conference, University of Kent, September 1967; transcripts of presentations and debates for the 2nd CAM Conference, University of Kent, September 1968; transcripts of 84 interviews by Anne Walmsley with members or associates of CAM, 1985-1987; sound recordings of CAM talks, symposia and interviews; press cuttings and photographs of CAM events.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

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CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

Conditions governing access: Currently there is no public access to the collections, but reference access (by appointment) will be possible from 2003 onwards. In the interim all research enquiries should be sent to the George Padmore Institute by post, fax or email c/o: George Padmore Institute, 76 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EN, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7272 8915. Fax: +44 (0)20 7281 4662. Email: info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Language/scripts of material: English

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids: Printed lists of CAM correspondence and a printed index to Anne Walmsley's interviews, listed alphabetically by writer.

ALLIED MATERIALS AREA

Existence and location of originals:

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DESCRIPTION CONTROL AREA

Recorder's note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: 28 November 2001

Interest: Black, Caribbean

Specific group:

Subjects

Diaspora studies

Cultural studies

Caribbean diaspora

Caribbean cultures

Caribbean literature

Personal/Corporate names

Caribbean Artists Movement

Brathwaite, Edward Kamau, 1930-

La Rose, John, 1927-

Salkey, Andrew, 1928-1995

James, Louis

Maxwell, Marina

Places

London, United Kingdom

Caribbean