From honour to tribute: Museum launches Karl Watson lectures

The Barbados Museum and Historical Society has unveiled a comprehensive lecture series to celebrate the life and legacy of renowned historian Dr Karl Watson.

The series, titled Watson’s World – A Legacy Unfolds: An Introduction to the Life, Work, and Contribution of the Late Karl Stewart Watson, aims to explore the multifaceted contributions of the late academic and cultural icon, whose death from cancer last month has transformed the event into a poignant tribute.

Though the series was planned before the historian’s death, it now serves as a tribute to his wide-ranging contributions, particularly his academic impact at the University of the West Indies and his dedicated service to the Barbados Museum, among other institutions.

Speaking at the launch, museum director Alissandra Cummins emphasised that the lecture series would highlight the many areas where Dr Watson left his mark.

“Watson’s World: A Legacy Unfolds is about giving us the opportunity to explore together a number of the areas in which Karl touched lives, contributing enormously to making Barbados a better place. Culturally, enriching it artistically, as well as committing to the visibility of Barbados beyond its shores.”

Historian Dr Henderson Carter described Dr Watson as a “nation builder” and said that it was his sacrifices towards local institutions that will forever be a lasting memory of his legacy.

He said: “This is an opportunity to honour a nation builder; we are not honouring him merely for what he did in the diplomatic service, we are not honouring him because he taught classes at UWI, [we are doing it] because he went overboard to sacrifice for people. He went overboard to sacrifice for the university, he went overboard to sacrifice for this museum, and that is why I think today we ought to honour the late Dr Watson as nation builder.”

Dr Carter noted that Dr Watson will also be remembered for his strong support of heritage tourism.

He said: “Karl was an advocate for heritage; the heritage programme at UWI, Karl recognised that programme was not only a programme for the development of the campus but also for the development of the nation.

“We’ve had tourism for a very long time in Barbados, but it was only after that programme that people started to take note of heritage tourism in a serious way. How it could be expanded to woo tourists, not only with sun, sea and sand but to bring tourists to an understanding of how the country developed. To woo them with stories about London Bourne and Joseph Rachell.”

The lecture series will run from February 19 to June 21 and will include a variety of events outside of lectures, including guided tours and panel discussions. (SB)