Times of the Islands Fall 2021

astrolabe
newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Front Street, PO Box 188, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI TKCA 1ZZ
tel 649 247 2160/US incoming 786 220 1159 • email info@tcmuseum.org • web www.tcmuseum.org
TURKS & CAICOS NATIONAL MUSEUM
Thank You!
The departure of our former director, Dr. Michael Pateman, and the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic
have left me as the sole employee of the Turks & Caicos National Museum. I have the responsibility of
running many aspects of both locations—Grand Turk and Providenciales. The only way I am able to do
this is with the assistance of a dedicated group of enthusiastic volunteers who are committed to the
museum’s future success. They lend their time and ideas to assist us in remaining open and continuing
with progress.
Starting in 2019, Grand Turk volunteers were assisting with updating our collection database. This
software allows us to catalog all items in our collections including photographs, artifacts, and library and
archived material. While the database, PastPerfect, had information about various objects, photographs
were not attached. Volunteers’ efforts before and during the pandemic have made major progress and
more than 90% of our photograph records are now complete.
Now that some of the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, the museum and gift shop on Grand Turk have
reopened; the Providenciales location is open with volunteers operating the museum, Heritage House
and Heritage Garden. Several of them have a special interest in the garden and their efforts are apparent.
Without these volunteers—who often go over and above what is expected of them—we would not have
been able to re-open the Providenciales location at this time.
The Turks & Caicos National Museum Board is also all volunteers, including President Seamus Day,
who assists me often. We have board members and directors with experience in a wide range of businesses
and specialty areas of knowledge. Many of them have been involved since the museum’s inception.
Thank you to everyone who has continued to support us over the years and especially during these
difficult times. We cannot say it often enough that our supporters and volunteers are the reason for our
success and ability to carry on. If you are interested in volunteering or have an artistic, historic or cultural
research question or article you would like to submit to Astrolabe, contact us at info@tcmuseum.org.a
Lisa Turnbow-Talbot, Museum Manager
Times of the Islands Fall 2021 69