Abstract
The St. Vincent Botanical Garden was established in 1765 as the first Botanical Garden in the Caribbean and was intended, by the British colonial authorities, to ensure that military personnel stationed on the island had some form of health care. Over time the Garden developed into a nursery for plants from around the world.
Dr Alexander Anderson (1748-1811) was superintendent of the Garden from 1785 until shortly before his death. Anderson travelled widely in the Caribbean and into Guiana, writing accounts of the natural histories of the countries he visited, recording plant species new to Europeans, and recording the medical treatments of the indigenous peoples of St Vincent, and enslaved Africans working on the country’s sugar plantations. Over the years Anderson meticulously documented the plants he grew in the Garden, including, in many instances, their uses.
This project was funded by AHRC/NERC's "Hidden Histories of Environmental Science” initiative. It brought together the diverse archival and plant materials that Anderson sent and shared with institutions in London, and it analysed Anderson’s plant lists, written archival records, and dried plant specimens. This led to insights into both the development of the Garden and the sources of Anderson's information about the plants and their uses. Importantly, it highlighted how Indigenous and enslaved Africans' knowledge systems contributed to the development of the Garden, to Anderson’s understanding of plants, and, indirectly therefore, to Western science more generally.
The main output of the project was this set of Exhibition boards, collaboratively developed by the team, which have since toured the UK and are now permanently displayed in the St Vincent Botanical Garden. This exhibition was designed as one of the means of sharing the story of the Garden and the people who worked there, alongside some of the insights we gained.
Dr Alexander Anderson (1748-1811) was superintendent of the Garden from 1785 until shortly before his death. Anderson travelled widely in the Caribbean and into Guiana, writing accounts of the natural histories of the countries he visited, recording plant species new to Europeans, and recording the medical treatments of the indigenous peoples of St Vincent, and enslaved Africans working on the country’s sugar plantations. Over the years Anderson meticulously documented the plants he grew in the Garden, including, in many instances, their uses.
This project was funded by AHRC/NERC's "Hidden Histories of Environmental Science” initiative. It brought together the diverse archival and plant materials that Anderson sent and shared with institutions in London, and it analysed Anderson’s plant lists, written archival records, and dried plant specimens. This led to insights into both the development of the Garden and the sources of Anderson's information about the plants and their uses. Importantly, it highlighted how Indigenous and enslaved Africans' knowledge systems contributed to the development of the Garden, to Anderson’s understanding of plants, and, indirectly therefore, to Western science more generally.
The main output of the project was this set of Exhibition boards, collaboratively developed by the team, which have since toured the UK and are now permanently displayed in the St Vincent Botanical Garden. This exhibition was designed as one of the means of sharing the story of the Garden and the people who worked there, alongside some of the insights we gained.
| Original language | English |
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| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Oct 2023 |