Who Were They? Family History Research

By Melanie Clifton-Harvey

Endangered Archives Project

As part of my work here as the Endangered Archives Project Principal Investigator and Archivist, I was able to coordinate one of a series of workshops and seminars involving government offices and local church leaders. Joining us was Mr. Tim Law from the Familysearch project in Utah, one of the largest online genealogical sites and repositories of family history information in the world. 

The morning involved a presentation by Tim on the history and background of how Familysearch works to digitize and preserve family history records around the world and how the process has changed since the early plate cameras of the 1930's when it was started. With a lively question and answer session throughout, I followed up with a short Powerpoint presentation on the Basics of Archives. Covering Site, Storage, Handling and Cleaning with some interesting pictures taken from her investigations and preservation work in the Turks and Caicos Islands! 

Having already visited the TCI Registry Offices, after the workshop finished Tim and and I  visited the Anglican church with Reverend Mark Kendall, where we discovered the early registers from 1865 from Salt Cay with Births and Burials included!

The last trip was to the Baptist Church where there are also some interesting records from this period regarding North and Middle Caicos and Provo (Blue Hills then). With a little follow-up and contract signing to make sure that all privacy laws are upheld we hope to go ahead with copying all the records we have found so far and enable much greater public access, stay tuned for more information...

New Gates and the Back 40: Botanical Garden Part 3

By Jackie Garbarino
Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager

The progress in the museum garden is amazing! Pat and Joseph (and anyone else that comes by with a willing hand) have been working hard and it shows.



Joseph is also becoming an accomplished carpenter. It seems he has latent talent. His temporary Donkey Barrier was just what we needed.

Joseph and the donkey barrier.

With the help of AND Construction, we are making huge progress on the botanical garden.

Rebuilt wall, fence and gate by the AND team.

Reclaim, reuse, and recycle bird style! Even our resident Night Heron is “going green”

By Pat Saxton
Museum Administrator

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. Photo courtesy Greg Lavaty

Every morning I come into work, our resident Yellow-crowned-Night Heron (which I call Big Bird) sits on the wall along the Science Building. I had not seen him in a few days and was worried because there are some cats around. Then, last week, Jackie pointed out to me that he had a nest, over the exposed water tank in the lot next door. So now every morning I take a look and a listen to make sure Big Bird and family are ok. Last night when I was leaving work, I noticed only one Heron sitting by the nest, so I was a bit concerned.

Ahhh but my concerns were soon dashed as I came around to the front of the Museum. There, sitting and pecking at the old carpet Joseph had taken out of the Museum was Mr. Big Bird. He didn’t see me, so I stood and watched as he pulled and pulled at the strings of raveled carpet. Soon a long piece broke off, and away he went, walking at first with this large piece of “string” dragging behind him.

It sure was a funny site and I had to keep from laughing out loud. Perhaps he knew someone was watching, because he took off over the wall, and looked like a kite, with a long string attached! I guess the new “digs” must be comfortable, because this morning I saw Mr. and Mrs. Big Bird sitting by their nest, perhaps admiring their interior decorating!

By the way, soon we will have our Bird Walking and Bird Driving Trails marked throughout Grand Turk. The Museum and the Botanical Garden are both part of these tours, so be sure to stop by and watch the birds in their natural habitat within our garden, and on the beach.

Fabulous Movie Night!

By Jackie Garbarino

So I thought the evening was lost when the DVD refused to play.  Luckily we started to hook up the system at 6 for a 7:30 showing.  Tiffany started the effort soon to be joined by Nalthia and then Melanie.  I was a bundle of nerves but Nalthia maintained calm and a positive attitude.  At 7:15 victory was won, the room filled up with wonderful movie lovers, the bar was hopping and all was well on the Isle of Grand Turk.  Thanks as always for supporting the museum!


Nalthia, Melanie & Tiffany our very own Beautiful Geeks!

 



Movie, drinks and snacks.  All on Grand Turk...does it

get any better than this!  Yes, because it supports our

National Museum.

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Number One Bartender Captain Mitchell with Number One
Savory Snack Maker Miss Stephanie and Number One
Fee Collector Mister Neil.