The archives of one of Jamaica's most important cultural icons will be given to
McMaster on Sunday.

Approximately 40 boxes of materials belonging to poet, folklorist and entertainer
Louise Bennett Coverley – better known as “Miss Lou” – will be turned over to McMaster
at an event being held at the Ron Joyce Centre.

A lifelong champion of Jamaica's cultural heritage and language, Miss Lou is a
household name on her native island. Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1919, the
multitalented Miss Lou was best known for her poetry, singing and acting. She also
lectured extensively in the United States and United Kingdom on Jamaican folklore,
music and culture, and is credited with raising the Jamaican patois dialect to new
levels.

“McMaster is thankful for this generous contribution to its archives and to the
Jamaican-Canadian community for its work to preserve these materials and ensure the
legacy of Miss Lou continues to live on,” said Patrick Deane, President of McMaster
University.

Miss Lou served as cultural ambassador at large for Jamaica and in 2001 was
appointed
as a Member of the Order of Merit for her distinguished contributions to the
development of arts and culture.

Miss Lou spent the last 20 years of her life in Toronto, Ont., where she died in
2006.

“These materials represent a significant cultural contribution to McMaster,” said
Jeff
Trzeciak, University librarian. “We're pleased and honoured to accept Miss Lou's
archives and hope that they can act as a tool to help the community learn about
Jamaican culture, history and language.”

Close friend and retired citizenship court judge Pamela Appelt, who swore Miss
Lou in
as a
Canadian citizen, says she's pleased to see the materials heading to McMaster.

“My role is to keep Miss Lou's memory alive and I'm very pleased with the type of
recognition being given to her,” said Appelt, co-executor of Miss Lou's estate. “Miss
Lou's archives will now be available for anybody to see and learn more about her.”

The presentation of the archives will be made at the event, dubbed “Walk Good: A
Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Miss Lou”, hosted by CBC news anchor Dwight
Drummond.

The collection, consisting of papers, photos, news clippings, awards and personal
mementos, will be housed at and digitized by the William Ready Division of Archives
and Research Collections at Mills Library.