Miss Lou’s archives to be turned over to Canadian University

Archival materials belonging to Jamaica’s late Ambassador of Culture, Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou), will be turned over to McMaster University, located in Hamilton, Canada.

The presentation will take place on Sunday, February 13, during an event dubbed, ‘Walk Good: A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Miss Lou', which will be held at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, Ron Joyce Centre.

Judge Pamela Appelt who served as co-Executor of Miss Lou’s estate said the gift to the university will consist of all of Miss Lou’s papers, photos and works in her possession when she died in July 2006, in Canada, where she resided for many years.

“We are talking about some 80 boxes of materials,” said Judge Appelt during a recent interview with JIS News.

“The university will digitise all the material that they will receive and it will be available for anybody around the world to see and learn more about Miss Lou,” she added.

Judge Appelt, who is also co-chair of the Jamaica50 Committee, which is planning activities to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary in 2012, said McMaster University will be working with the committee to organise seminars on the work of Miss Lou next year.

“My role is to keep Miss Lou’s memory alive and I’m very pleased with the type of recognition being given to her,” said Judge Appelt, who has the distinction of being the first black woman to be appointed a Citizenship Court judge in Ontario.

The show will feature performances by the Heritage Singers; Educator, Dr. Honor Ford-Smith, who co-founded the Sistren Theatre Collective; Maud Fuller, who played Liza on the Lou and Ranny show; and comedian, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, who is carrying on the legacy of Miss Lou.                                                                      

Miss Lou, who has been credited with elevating the status of the Jamaican language, lived in Toronto, Canada for the last 20 years of her life.  The province of Ontario  honoured her memory with the establishment of ‘Miss Lou’s Room’ in 2007 at Harbourfront Centre, a cultural centre located in downtown Toronto. Visitors to Miss Lou’s Room can see photographs and listen to her performances and recordings.

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