The C.L.R. James Institute: Jim's Letter #1

The C.L.R. James Institute

Jim's Letter

March 25, 2001

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the C.L.R. James Institute web site,
and thanks for stopping by.

    When I became James's archivist in London in 1983,
I would help out with his visitors,
     who came from all walks of life.
Afterwords, I would go to the local pub, or cafe,
     with whoever it was, maybe a student or a writer,
a professor or an organizer, an old friend or a new one,
     Such meetings would often include a trip
to the copy shop down the road,
     or the one over by the Brixton tube.
My work then, which grew into this Institute,
     consisted of relating to one person at a time,
and, very important,
     that person has always come along,
more or less on his or her own.

     The project has expanded,
we have moved from work by and about James,
     through work critical of James,
(which still isn't critical enough)
     to work less related to James,
to work which seems totally unrelated to James.
     We have had plenty to do in response to people,
and little time or need to reach out in general,
     to advertise, to promote ourselves.

     So, why a web site now? Why reach out now,
when we already have way too much to do?
     Simple: we are seeking major funding,
which will enable us to hire staff
     and fund projects, such as the publication
of the huge catalog of our collection,
     and the expansion of our various activities.
In order to move on, we have to report
     on where we are and document where we have been.
And there is no better way to compile and publish
     this information than on this web site.

In asking for your participation now,
all we can do is promise to keep this site
alive and growing with the same spirit
that has animated the Institute from the beginning.

Jim Murray, Director (make inquiries here)
Ralph Dumain, Librarian/Archivist & Webmaster

Uploaded 25 March 2001