The Jamaica Society Leeds is on the hunt for content for our Eulogy project celebrating the lives, journeys and heritage of Leeds’ first generation Jamaicans no longer with us.

We’re looking for the funeral programmes, eulogies and photos of first generation Jamaicans who came to Leeds during the 1940’s to 1960’s. Together they tell a life story. As a collection they will tell the story of a whole generation.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Funeral programmes and printed eulogies of first generation Jamaicans in Leeds.
• Their photos taken in Jamaica or in early days in Leeds – preferably originals of those early days pictures included in their funeral programmes or, if not available, from around the same time. Most people used Gerald Donne Photography on Chapeltown Road.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE COLLECTION?

Our specially trained Eulogy Team will treat the precious items you loan to us with the utmost respect and care. They could appear in some or all of a number of platforms (only with your permission) including;

• The Eulogy Exhibition at Room 700, Leeds Central Library and community locations in August 2019.
• A Eulogy book and other printed items.
• Online – on our website and potentially the other archives eg West Yorkshire Archive Service, and the MyLearning national teachers’ resource.

All loaned materials will be return to owners.

WHAT NEXT?

1. Start searching in those drawers and old photo albums!
2. Be sure you have the permission of next of kin or can give permission to share the funeral programmes and photos.
3. Bring them along to one our collection events. The first one is on

Sunday 17th March from 1.00pm – 6:00pm at Jamaica House, 277 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 2HA.