The Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies
Edric and Pearl Connor papers
SC83
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies
- Title
- Edric and Pearl Connor papers
- ID
- SC83
- Date
- 1941-1978
- Extent
- 4.0 Linear feet
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation note
Edric and Pearl Connor Papers. The Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
Biographical/Historical note
Edric Connor was born in Mayaro, Trinidad in 1913. He emerged as a cultural activist in the early 1940's and migrated to Britain in 1944 where he subsequently became a well known singer as well as a film and stage actor. His film appearances included: Cry the Beloved Country (1951); Moby Dick (1956): and the Roots of Heaven (1958). He died in London in 1968.
Pearl Connor (also known as Pearl Connor-Mongotsi) was born in Trinidad in 1924. Originally a dancer with Beryl McBurnie, she went to Britain in 1948 to study law and subsequently married Edric Connor. In 1956, she started the Edric Connor Agency to promote actors, dancers, writers and musicians. In 1971, she married Joseph Mogotsi, leader of the South African singing group, The Manhattan Brothers. She died in South Africa in 2005.
Scope and Contents note
The collection comprises documents, correspondence and photographs from both Edric and Pearl Connor. The items from Edric include several drafts of Edric Connor's autobiography, photographs, several of which illustrate his film career and many music scores that he possessed. The photographs also depict the evacuation of the northwest peninsula of Chaguaramas in Trinidad which Connor helped to organize on behalf of the U.S. Military in the early 1940s. There are also early photographs of the steelband showing the transition from biscuit tins to oil drums.
The Pearl Connor material covers the period 1977-1978 when she was based in Trinidad. It comprises newspaper clippings and correspondence, pamphlets depicting her involvement in various aspects of Trinidad and Tobago culture, her efforts as a cultural activist, involvement in Carifesta, attempted development of a local film industry, also her work as a columnist with the Trinidad Guardian.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
The Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine Campus868-662-2002 Ext.82132
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The collection was donated to the Alma Jordan Library by Ms. Geraldine Connor, daughter of Pearl and Edric Connor in 1980.
Related Materials
Related Archival Materials note
The Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture also holds a collection of items on Edric and Pearl Connor.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- All Saints Anglican Church (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago).
- Carifesta.
- Edric Connor Agency.
Geographic Name(s)
- Chaguaramas (Trinidad and Tobago)
Personal Name(s)
- Connor, Edric.
- Connor, Pearl.
Subject(s)
- Actors -- Trinidad and Tobago
- Motion picture industry -- Trinidad and Tobago.
- Songs -- Scores
- Steel bands (Music) -- Trinidad and Tobago -- Photographs
- Theater -- Trinidad and Tobago
Bibliography
Connor, Edric. Horizons : the life and times of Edric Connor 1913-1968, an autobiography / Edric Connor ; with foreword by George Lamming and introduction by Bridget Brereton and Gordon Rohlehr. Kingston, Jamaica ; Miami : Ian Randle Publishers , 2007 [i.e. 2006]
Collection Inventory
Poem entitled "People" by Gilbert GasterKeywordsGaster, Gilbert; Russell, Robert; Catechism |
Box 1 |
Folder 1 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Entitled L'Horizon at Mayaro. Pages 271-313 |
Box 1 |
Folder 2 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Entitled L'Horizon at Mayaro. Appendix included. Pages 1-120 |
Box 1 |
Folder 3 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Entitled L'Horizon at Mayaro. Pages i-ii, 6-290 |
Box 1 |
Folder 4 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Pages 121-366 |
Box 1 |
Folder 5 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Entitled L'Horizon at Mayaro. Includes appendix and photographs. Pages 218-366 |
Box 1 |
Folder 6 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Includes appendix and photographs. Pages 1-366 |
Box 1 |
Folder 7 |
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Manuscript of Edric Connor's autobiography. Entitled "The cockroaches got me down or L'Horizon at Mayaro". Includes appendix and photographs. Pages |
Box 1 |
Folder 8 |
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Music scores: Dry Land, I want to die easy when I die: A carol of Thanksgiving; Yesterday. |
Box 2 |
Folder 9 |
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Music Scores: Green Green; Scandalize my name; Aura Lee; Short'nin Bread; Guiseppe Da Barber |
Box 2 |
Folder 10 |
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Music Scores: The Exodus song; Blowin' in the wind; Sweet Lorraine; Hello Dolly; The sea |
Box 2 |
Folder 11 |
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Music Scores: Tennessee Waltz |
Box 2 |
Folder 12 |
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Music Scores: John Henry. Arranged by Jack Nathan and sung by Edric Connor |
Box 2 |
Folder 13 |
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Music Scores: Nobody knows the trouble I've seen; Anywhere I wander; Link o day; Unchained melody |
Box 2 |
Folder 14 |
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Music Scores: More. Music for various instruments included |
Box 2 |
Folder 15 |
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Music Scores: If I can help somebody; Beyond the Hill; Mack the knife; January |
Box 2 |
Folder 16 |
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Music Scores: I could easily fall (in love with you). Parts for Bass, drums, guitar and piano |
Box 2 |
Folder 17 |
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Music Scores: Softly as I leave you |
Box 2 |
Folder 18 |
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Music Scores: Where have all the flowers gone. Arranged for Orchestra by Jack Nathan. Sung by Edric Connor. Photocopies included |
Box 2 |
Folder 19 |
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Music Scores: Ol' man river. Arranged for Orchestra by Jack Nathan. Sung by Edric Connor |
Box 2 |
Folder 20 |
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Music Scores: Climb every mountain |
Box 2 |
Folder 21 |
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Music Scores: My colouring book. Parts for various instruments included |
Box 2 |
Folder 22 |
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Music Scores: They can't take that away from me. Includes parts for various instruments. |
Box 2 |
Folder 23 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor as Dagoo in the movie Moby Dick. 1956 |
Box 3 |
Folder 24 |
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Photographs: Steelband; Stickfighting; Limbo. 1940s |
Box 3 |
Folder 25 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor as Ushingo in the movie West of Zanzibar. 1953 |
Box 3 |
Folder 26 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor's 45th birthday party; Shakespeare Memorial Theatre; Sratford-Upon-Avon; Edric Connor as Gower in Shakespeare's Pericles. 1958 |
Box 3 |
Folder 27 |
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Photographs: Mayaro; Mayaro Government School; Edric Connor's family. 1955-1956 |
Box 3 |
Folder 28 |
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Photographs: Miscellaneous photos of Edric Connor. 1940s-1960s |
Box 3 |
Folder 29 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor at Studio 90 in England. [1960s] |
Box 3 |
Folder 30 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor on BBC-TV. 1959KeywordsBritish Broadcasting Corporation |
Box 3 |
Folder 31 |
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Photographs: Chaguaramas evacuation when used as an American military base. 1940sKeywordsJimmy Tardieu |
Box 3 |
Folder 32 |
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Photographs: Photocopies of unidentified scenes |
Box 3 |
Folder 33 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor singing at Coventry Cathedral and St. Paul's Cathedral in England |
Box 3 |
Folder 34 |
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Slides: Acquired by Edric Connor during filming of West of Zanzibar or Roots of Heaven |
Box 3 |
Folder 35 |
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Photographic negatives: Images of Edric Connor |
Box 3 |
Folder 36 |
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Photographic negatives: Scenes in Africa |
Box 3 |
Folder 37 |
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Photographs: Connor family including children, Geraldine and Peter. 1950s-1960s |
Box 3 |
Folder 38 |
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Photographs: Edric Connor as Sandpaper, in the movie Vikings. 1958 |
Box 3 |
Folder 39 |
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Photographs: Includes Pearl Connor; FESTAC 1977 and unidentified scenes |
Box 3 |
Folder 40 |
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Photographs. Africa. 1950s |
Box 3 |
Folder 41 |
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Programmes: Opening of Little Carib Theatre 1948; Edric Connor Limited listing of songs performed by Manhattan Brothers 1963; Edinburgh Film Festival 1960 |
Box 4 |
Folder 42 |
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Play: Musical play typescript,"The Martinique Story" by Jim O'Connor and Gerard Victory. Flyer on Aspects of Popular Music 1962. Includes announcement of Edric Connor's lecture "Music in the West Indies" |
Box 4 |
Folder 43 |
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Pearl Connor: Correspondence from Pearl Connor Management Ltd. to Peter Polouviez, British Actors Equity Association, Arif Ali, Therese Mills |
Box 4 |
Folder 44 |
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Newspaper clippings: Miscellaneous. Includes FESTAC,film,race, blacks, Africans |
Box 4 |
Folder 45 |
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Newspaper clippings: Hasely Crawford; Olympics. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 46 |
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Newspaper clippings: Performing arts; Theatre; Geraldine Connor. |
Box 4 |
Folder 47 |
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Newspaper clippings: Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts; CARIFESTA; Jamaica 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 48 |
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Pearl Connor: Documents relating to CARIFESTA in Jamaica. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 49 |
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Performing Arts: FESTAC: Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture. Nigeria. 1975-1977 |
Box 4 |
Folder 50 |
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Pearl Connor: Correspondence. Sharc Productions Ltd. Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture. Nigeria. 1976-1977 |
Box 4 |
Folder 51 |
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Pearl Connor: Correspondence on Chaguaramas project proposing Macqueripe Beach Club as cultural centre. 1975-1977 |
Box 4 |
Folder 52 |
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Newspaper clippings: Geraldine Connor; 130th Anniversary of Anglican All Saints' Church Port of Spain. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 53 |
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Documents: 130th Anniversary of All Saints' Anglican Church. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 54 |
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Documents: 130th Anniversary of All Saints' Anglican Church. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 55 |
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National Dance Company of Senegal in Port of Spain; Newspaper article by Pearl Connor. |
Box 4 |
Folder 56 |
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Photographs: British musical, Mardi Gras. |
Box 4 |
Folder 57 |
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Newspaper clippings: Beryl Mc Burnie; Honorary Doctorate award by The University of the West Indies. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 58 |
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Programmes: Performing arts;Typescript by Pearl Connor. 1976-1977 |
Box 4 |
Folder 59 |
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Pearl Connor: Miscellaneous Documents; Application for Assistant Director of Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago. 1976-1978 |
Box 4 |
Folder 60 |
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Pearl Connor: Application to Trinidad and Tobago Television and the Caribbean Community Secretariat. |
Box 4 |
Folder 61 |
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Pearl Connor: Share Productions Limited; Survey on music and record industries Trinidad and Tobago |
Box 4 |
Folder 62 |
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Pearl Connor: Cultural Centre development plan. 1972-1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 63 |
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Pearl Connor: Cultural activist correspondence. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 64 |
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Pearl Connor: CARIFESTA. Includes a postcard with Lord Kitchener. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 65 |
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Pearl Connor: Articles written by Pearl Connor; Includes Beryl Mc Burnie, Shiva Naipaul, Glen Byam. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 66 |
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Pearl Connor: Typescripts of articles written by Pearl Connor. 1976 |
Box 4 |
Folder 67 |
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Brochures: Filmex Society: Bank of Jamaica Fine Arts Collection. 1977 |
Box 5 |
Folder 68 |
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