St George’s University (SGU) has formally donated the Lord Pitt Collection to the Grenada National Museum, ensuring the preservation and public access of one of Grenada’s most significant archival collections.
The handover ceremony took place on SGU’s Chancellor Charles Modica Campus on Friday, 12 December, bringing together university leadership and museum representatives to honour the enduring legacy of Lord Pitt.
Lord Pitt of Hampstead was a distinguished Grenadian-born physician, politician, and advocate whose influence extended far beyond the shores of the island. A trailblazer in public service, he was the first Black chairman of the Greater London Council and a respected voice in international conversations on social justice, equity, and governance. His life’s work stands as a powerful testament to Grenada’s global impact and the far-reaching contributions of its people.
The Lord Pitt Collection comprises personal papers, correspondence, and archival materials that document his professional achievements and intellectual legacy. By donating the collection to the Grenada National Museum, SGU is ensuring these materials will be preserved, interpreted, and shared as part of the nation’s collective memory.
“Today represents a meaningful collaboration between the University and the Grenada National Museum,” said Dr Oliver Benoit, professor in SGU’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. “The Lord Pitt Collection is an extremely important national resource, and SGU has taken important steps in stewarding this material. Transferring it to the museum is a step in the right direction as we look toward future exhibitions that will educate the public — and ourselves — about Grenada’s heroes and the values they embodied.”
Dr Benoit noted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to scholarship, public education, and cultural preservation, adding that the collection will play a vital role in shaping future exhibitions and national conversations around Grenadian history and leadership.
Accepting the collection on behalf of the Grenada National Museum, Lorna Dale L Charles, chief curator, Head of Curation and Collections, emphasised the significance of the donation and the responsibility it carries. “This is more than a transfer of documents — it is a transfer of memory, of legacy, and of responsibility,” Charles said. “The Lord Pitt Collection preserves the record of a Grenadian whose influence reached across the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, and global discussions on justice, dignity, and public service. We accept this collection with humility and conviction, committed to safeguarding Grenada’s intellectual and moral heritage for generations to come.”
Charles also acknowledged SGU’s confidence in the museum as a custodian of national memory, noting that such institutional collaboration strengthens Grenada’s ability to tell its own stories with authority and depth.
SGU leaders expressed deep pride in honouring Lord Pitt’s extraordinary life by ensuring his legacy remains accessible to the Grenadian public through the National Museum.
“This donation reflects SGU’s enduring commitment to Grenada and its history,” noted Dr Mark Clunes, interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs of SGU. “We are honoured to celebrate Lord Pitt — a Grenadian whose life demonstrated how one individual’s journey can echo across continents — by placing this collection where it belongs, at the heart of the nation’s cultural heritage.”
The donation marks a proud moment for SGU, the Grenada National Museum, and Grenada as a whole, reinforcing the power of partnership in preserving history, inspiring future generations, and honouring those who shaped the nation’s past and future.
SGU
