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National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago

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National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago

Preserving Trinidad and Tobago's documentary heritage. Reuse by permission only.

The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago (NATT) is the treasure-house of our country's heritage. We, at the National Archives, are the custodians of Trinidad and Tobago's memory. We acquire, preserve and make accessible thousands of records, of various formats, to the public. These include government records, immigration records, photographs, books, maps and more. To learn more about our collections, please visit our website: https://natt.gov.tt/

07/09/2026

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 📣 Please be advised that our office will be closed today, Monday, September 7th, due to a water outage.

We apologise for any inconvenience and ask members of the public to contact us by sending an email to [email protected] 📧

We thank you for understanding, and appreciate your patience. 🙏🏼

03/09/2026

Born on August 22nd 1943, Adrian Camps-Campins was a well-known Trinidadian artist and community historian who used his talents to create bold, colourful, acrylic paintings that captured his love of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, art, and architecture.

Camps-Campins was born in St. Ann’s and attended St. Mary’s College. He began painting from a young age, inspired by his father’s use of watercolour, as well as Harry Bryden’s watercolour landscapes. By the mid-1960s, Camps-Campins began receiving commissions and his interest in T&T’s history could be seen in his work.

During the 1970s, he left his secure job in insurance and began recording the architectural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago through his art. From houses to parks to marketplaces and rum shops, Camps-Campins brought scenes of Trinidad and Tobago’s history to life on paper.

He is well-known for his paintings depicting the Lion House, the George Brown House, and “Christmas Meeting of the Trinidad Turf Club, Queen’s Park Savannah - 1912” (1975) which depicts horse racing in the Queen’s Park Savannah, against a backdrop of fifteen notable buildings in Port of Spain. His favourite piece, “The Polo Match” shows a polo game in the Savannah with the Magnificent Seven in the distance. These postcards of his folded out to reveal panels of historical information.

One of his most popular paintings was, “The Seventh Birthday Party of Clara Rosa De Lima” (1989), which was made into a UNICEF greeting card in 1993. His art has been exhibited worldwide, including London, Paris & Washington DC. His painting “The University of Woodford Square”, was selected in 2002 for a special $1.00 postage stamp for the 40th anniversary of Trinidad & Tobago’s Independence. In 2014, Camps-Campins received an honourary Doctor of Letters from the University of the West Indies.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo 1 shows “The Cricket Match, San Juan Estate, Gran Couva 1914” by Adrian Camps-Campins.
Photo 2 shows “The University of Woodford Square – 1956” (2002). These are both from the Adrian Camps-Campins Greeting Card Collection at the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago.
Photo 3 shows the late artist Adrian Camps-Campins.

References: https://sta.uwi.edu/uwitoday/archive/december_2014/article20.asp

01/09/2026

The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago was delighted to assist and contribute records to this wonderful exhibition by The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T 🇹🇹

31/08/2026

Happy Independence Day Trinidad and Tobago! 🇹🇹

in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago became the fifth independent country in the Caribbean region—after Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica--and the second independent Commonwealth country in the Caribbean, after Jamaica.

Independence represented a new and exciting journey into uncharted waters—especially for those who had only known Trinidad and Tobago as a British colony.

That year, the Government Printing Office published a booklet called, “What Independence Means to You” that opens with this quote: “It is impossible to understand the full meaning of Independence, to appreciate the seriousness of this new status of ours, or to see clearly the road we must take in the future, if we do not pause or look back at the past and see the weary road that we have walked since our ancestors came to these shores.”

The end of the document reads: “For the first time, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have full power to shape their own destiny. The task which faces us is great. The contribution of each one of us is needed; it will be a contribution to the common good. It deserves our best efforts to weld this society into a nation. If we succeed the glory will belong to each one of us.”

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo shows independence greetings to the nation from the Trinidad Guardian Independence Supplement, published on August 26th 1962. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Newspaper Collection.

30/08/2026

Happy Anniversary to Angostura Bitters!

Angostura Bitters was first created in the town of Angostura, Venezuela in 1824, by founder Dr. Johann Siegert. He moved to Angostura from Germany in 1820 to serve as the Surgeon General of Simón Bolívar’s armies. By 1824, Siegert created a formula for aromatic bitters, which he used in his medical practice as a tincture for alleviating stomach ailments among soldiers.

During the 1870s, Siegert’s three sons migrated to Trinidad where they established Angostura Bitters as an essential ingredient in cocktails and food. In particular, Siegert’s son Don Carlos Siegert pioneered the brand, and expanded the company internationally.

The company was officially established as Angostura Bitters (Dr. J.G.B Siegert & Sons) Limited on August 30th 1921, after surviving a half century of war and conflict around the world. The company’s name was changed to Angostura Limited in 1992, and this month marks the fact that it has been over 100 years since it was established in Trinidad and Tobago.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

This photo showing an April 1901 advertisement for Angostura Bitters is courtesy of the book, “The New Illustrated Guide to Trinidad” by J. Paget, which is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Rare Books Collection.

References:

“Our Story.” Angostura, 12 Sept. 2018, angosturabitters.com/our-story/.

Paget, J. New Illustrated Guide to Trinidad. Government Printing Office, 1901. This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Rare Books Collection.

Doodnath, Alina. “Angostura Celebrates 195th Anniversary with Rum Day Specials: Loop Trinidad & Tobago.” Loop News, Loop News, 15 Aug. 2019.

29/08/2026

Happy 64th Independence, Trinidad and Tobago! 🇹🇹 More than just a national symbol on our Coat of Arms, the Scarlet Ibis is an indicator of our environmental health. that its red feathers come directly from a diet of wetland crustaceans? Protecting this National Bird means safeguarding the rich, coastal ecosystems that protect and sustain our nation.

The primary nesting ground of the Scarlet Ibis is the Caroni Swamp, a Ramsar site of international importance. The bird is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, so protecting its wetland habitat is essential for several reasons:

The presence and successful breeding of the Scarlet Ibis shows a thriving wetland. A decline in their numbers alerts scientists to water pollution, habitat destruction, or food chain disruptions. The mangrove forests where they nest protect our low-lying communities and coastlines from storm surges, shelter marine nurseries for local fish and crabs, and store four times more carbon than land rainforests, making ibis conservation a defense against flooding and climate change.

As an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) under Trinidad and Tobago law (October 11th, 2018), the Scarlet Ibis depends on our collective stewardship to protect it. We can all contribute by respecting wildlife laws, reporting illegal poaching or habitat destruction, reducing single-use plastics that wash into waterways and destroy mangrove ecosystems, and by supporting local conservation initiatives and mangrove reforestation projects!

This photo is courtesy of the book, World Class Trinidad & Tobago: an Area of Abundance: Profiles of Performance by Elliot Bastien, and Sandra Bernard-Bastien. It is part of the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Reference Collection.

28/08/2026

🇹🇹 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 As we celebrate 64 years of Independence, we’d like to share with you some snippets from the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s Newspaper Collection.

These front pages of the Trinidad Guardian newspaper trace some of the major events in 1962 during the lead-up to our Independence. In this way, newspaper records act as a time capsule that can bring our past to life and show us how far our society has come, since we became an independent nation.

Photo 1 shows the approval of our National Flag and Coat of Arms, in addition to the issuing of Independence Bonds, on July 15th 1962. that our first Government Archivist, Enos Sewlal, was part of the Committee that chose our national emblems?

Photo 2 shows the announcement of the selection of our National Anthem - created by West Indian songwriter Patrick Castagne - and was published on August 10th 1962.

Photo 3 shows the selection of August 31st as Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence Day, published on June 9th, 1962.

All of these newspapers are part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s Newspaper Collection.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

27/08/2026

𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 that the Piarco International Airport played an important role during Trinidad and Tobago’s independence in 1962? That year, it featured a newly constructed terminal building and served as the official arrival and departure point for dignitaries, including the Queen’s representative, the Princess Royal.

Not only did noted artist Carlisle Chang design Trinidad and Tobago’s National Flag and Coat of Arms that year, but he also designed his famous, “The Inherent Nobility of Man” mural for the opening of the new Terminal Building at Piarco Airport. Formally opened by the Princess Royal Anne on August 28th 1962, this updated Piarco Airport was seen as a shining example of the progress being made by our new nation.

The airport saw the construction of new aircraft taxiways and larger car parks that could hold over 1,500 vehicles, in addition to the new Terminal Building that now housed flight control equipment, spacious waiting rooms, airline offices, restaurants, bars, banking facilities, post offices, barber shops, luggage departments, and duty-free shopping areas.

It was estimated that upon opening, the building would offer employment to over 1000 persons on a 24-hour basis, and the runway was extended to 2,744 metres (9,000 ft) at this time.

The Piarco Airport was first opened in January 1931, and has always been the main air transportation facility serving Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the southern Caribbean. Nine years later in 1940, the Crown Point Airport (today known as the ANR Robinson International Airport) was opened in Tobago.

Copyright ©️The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo 1 showing the new Piarco Terminal Building is courtesy of the Sunday Guardian - Independence Supplement 1962. Photo 2 shows the new taxi ways, apron, and car parks at the new Piarco Int’l Airport courtesy of the Trinidad Guardian, Sept 4th 1962. These are part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection.
Photo 3 shows an excerpt from Government Press Release #284 “Opening of Piarco International Airport”. These Press Releases are part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s Collections.

References: “History of Aviation in Trinidad and Tobago.” The Airports, tntairports.com/NEW/history.html.

26/08/2026

Today, we are excited to share with you some of our Independence Day resources that have been digitised and made available to researchers, via the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s website! 🏛️

🇹🇹The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s Exhibition on “The Road to Nationhood, From Crown Colony Government to Republicanism”.

📰Various Government Publications that were created and released to the public during 1962:

🇹🇹“Our Flag and Other National Emblems” - explaining the history and creation of Trinidad and Tobago’s new National Flag, as well as other national emblems, such as the Coat of Arms, our National Flower, and the general rules and etiquette surrounding using the national flag.

📜“What Independence Means To You” - a short brochure on the history of Trinidad and Tobago’s march towards Independence, as well as the meaning and importance of our National Watchwords: Discipline, Production, and Tolerance.

📺TTT (Trinidad & Tobago Television’s) Independence Day Programme from August 30th to August 31st, 1962.

🎤Speeches and Government Press Releases related to Independence, 1962.

🛜These can all be located on the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s website, linked here: https://www.natt.gov.tt/node/282

These photos are part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s Photograph Collection.

Copyright ©️The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

25/08/2026

Happy 60th Anniversary to The Notting Hill Carnival celebrations! 🎭🇹🇹

This Independence Day weekend, the Caribbean diaspora living in the United Kingdom will be celebrating The Notting Hill Carnival! This event is an annual street festival that occurs during the last weekend of August to celebrate the culture, arts, and heritage of Caribbean people.

It was founded by, “the Mother of Notting Hill Carnival”, Claudia Jones, as well as Frank Crichlow & Russel Henderson of Trinidad & Tobago, in collaboration with Vincent George Forbes of Jamaica.

Jones organised a Carnival event in 1959, directed by Trinbagonian Edric Connor, in protest and in solidarity with the Caribbean community in London, following a series of racist and xenophobic incidents in 1958 against black Caribbean immigrants. In doing so, she planted the seeds for the Notting Hill Carnival (1966), which has since grown to become one of the largest Carnival events in the Caribbean diaspora.

Copyright ©️The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo 1 shows scenes from Notting Hill Carnival 1998, courtesy of the "So Yuh Going To Carnival" magazine, Winter/Spring 1998. These magazines are part of the Nasser Khan Carnival Magazine Collection at the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. This collection contains excellent resources for students and researchers, and is available to view at our Public Search Room!

𝐓𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐭 #𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝐒𝐭. 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟖:𝟑𝟎𝐚𝐦-𝟒:𝟎𝟎𝐩𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟖:𝟑𝟎𝐚𝐦-𝟑:𝟒𝟓𝐩𝐦. 𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬@𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬.𝐠𝐨𝐯.𝐭𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Photo 2 showing Claudia Jones circa 1950s, is part of the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Photo Collection.
Photo 3 showing musician Russel Henderson is courtesy of the book, "The Trinidad & Tobago Steel Pan: History and Evolution" by Dr. F. I. R. Blake (1995) which is part of the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Reference Collection.

References:
Dowlat, Rhondor. “Claudia Jones’ Life Remembered.” Trinidad Guardian, 21 Feb. 2015.

National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Article “Claudia Jones: Trinidadian-born UK Activist” via http://natt.gov.tt/new/node/229, n.d.

Address

105 St Vincent Street
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Tuesday	08:15 - 16:00
Wednesday	08:15 - 16:00
Thursday	08:15 - 16:00
Friday	08:15 - 15:45

Telephone

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Website

http://www.natt.gov.tt/

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