The St. Vincent & the Grenadines Archives

The SVG Archives has only recently begun gathering the island’s recorded data, and none is yet preserved in digital format. The records that do still exist are in danger because of poor preservation methods and a lack of organization. Many of them are not accessible because of their fragile condition.

The St. Vincent & the Grenadines Archives has many items that can be researched on-site. For a look at these items, see our Archives Holdings List. The Archives does not conduct research by mail. Hours are 9AM to Noon; 1PM to 4PM, Monday through Friday.

Church records research is offered by most churches on the island. A small donation is recommended for a better response. These records are usually limited to baptismal, marriage and death records and searches are done at their convenience. See our page on St. Vincent Churches for address and phone numbers.

No registry or archives records have yet been microfilmed or made available for searching by computer. All research by both staff and individual visitors is done by hand in the records books, which are handwritten and in very delicate condition.

Of encouraging news is the acquisition, in the Spring of 2004, of historical records from the French Government (which ruled St. Vincent off and on, most recently from 1776 to 1783), which are in the process of being translated into English. As of the Spring of 2006, it’s not yet known in what format they will be made available, or when the project will be complete.

Here is the official announcement about the French records project:

FRENCH RECORDS OF ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES RETURNED
“The Historical and Archaeological Society and Alliance Francaise announced
that 4000 pages of documentation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were found in
France and Martinique. These were 17th and 18th century French Colonial
records. A translation team is translating the documents. The documents include 18th
century maps, colonial financial records, visitor’s recordings, Carib-French
relations, and a census of the French colonies in St. Vincent.”

The contact information for the St. Vincent Archives is listed below:

St. Vincent & the Grenadines Archives
Cotton Ginnery Compound, Frenches,
Kingstown, St Vincent
Phone: (784) 485-6454
E-mail: archives@caribsurf.com

NOTE: If you contact the archives by email, it is recommended that you be as specific as possible about what records you are trying to find. You might also inquire about researchers on the island that they can recommend to assist you.

The St. Vincent Registry

The St. Vincent Government’s Registry keeps birth, death and marriage records from 1874. No research is generally offered by mail, but mailed requests with known birth, death or marriage dates should be accepted. It is better to call them to make certain before sending anything by mail. The Registry is open from 9AM to 3PM but closes for lunch from Noon to 1PM, Monday through Friday. A search fee of $2.00 (EC) per day is charged for researchers and seating in the search room is limited to 12 persons at a time, on a first-come, first-served basis. Copies of documents are up to $10.00 (EC) each.

Registrar General
Government Buildings
Kingstown, St. Vincent
Phone: (784) 451-2944 or 451-2945

Other Records held by the Supreme Court Registry:

ANGLICAN REGISTERS:
Burials, 1765 – 1857
Christenings and Births, 1765 – 1864
Marriages, 1765 – 1867

BUSINESS RECORDS:
Merchant’s Ledger, 1811 – 1816
(John KYLE)

COURT RECORDS:
Court of Grand sessions of the Peace, Minutes, 1821 – 1834

ESTATE RECORDS:
Peruvian Vale Estate, Journal, 1807 – 08

WILL RECORDS: 1785 – 1840

St. Vincent & the Grenadines Church Records

The St. Vincent & the Grenadines Survey Department – Kingstown

A Plan of Spring Estate in the island of Bequia, 1813.
A Plan of the Estate of Peruvian Vale & Henry’s Vale in Charlotte Parish in the Island of St. Vincent, 1809.
A Plan of the Island of Mustique, 1804.

Hiring a Researcher on the Island

If you are unable to visit St. Vincent, you should be able to locate a researcher who can assist you. Some people have hired students from the SVG Teachers College in Kingstown with limited success. You could try calling there to see if anyone might assist you. The phone number is: SVG Teachers College — Arnos Vale — (784) 458 – 4611

We can recommend one paid researcher who lives in St. Vincent who can assist you with research. You will need to verify with them that the information you are seeking is available for research, as some records on the island are inaccessible to everyone. Contact Florry Leach about research fees and other details at florry12000@yahoo.com