Separating the ill and potentially contagious individuals from the wider population to prevent disease spread is a centuries old practice. The word “quarantine” denotes this separation and restricted movement of individuals exposed to a communicable disease to observe whether symptoms develop. Though formal practice of quarantine dates to 14th century Venice, the earliest known quarantine facilities were leper hospitals converted to lazarettos during the 15th century.
by Janell Anderson
While working as a JAMVAT student in the UWI Museum and Archives, every day was a new adventure, a journey through time. Through the various collections that I worked with, I found myself being transported back to the foundation of the University College of the West Indies during its early years. I was quite fascinated by the Owen Minott collection, Leonie Forbes, Mervyn Morris and Phillip Sherlock Centre for Creative Arts (P.S.C.F.C.A) collections because of their impact on the history of the UWI and Jamaica’s cultural heritage.