The Anson Gonzalez Collection
Honoured as a poet laureate, literary activist, photographer, actor, mentor and educator, Anson Gonzalez (1936-2015) has left an indelible mark on the literary culture of the Caribbean. Gonzalez was born in Mayo, Trinidad.
Throughout his career, Gonzalez worked assiduously to proselytise creative writing to the wider world with particular emphasis on writing from the Caribbean. For example, he founded a bi-annual journal, New Voices which provided publishing opportunities for upcoming writers. He also created a companion newsletter which facilitated the dissemination of information on literary activities. Gonzalez was a moving force behind the observance of “World Poetry Day” in the region, which he initiated on October 15, 1979. He also co-founded “The Writer’s Union”.
This collection includes poetic writings; monographs; journals; periodicals; and, printed materials all accumulated by Gonzalez during his lifetime. The collection details and documents the poetry careers of over 120 writers not only from Trinidad and Tobago but from the wider Caribbean (Barbados, Guyana, etc.) as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Anson Gonzalez Collection was inscribed in the Memory of the World, Regional Register for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2014.