new plans for an Exhibition

Daily Gleaner, August 12, 1931

AN ALL-ISLAND NATIVE INDUSTRY EXHIBITION.

   It is understood that early in February next year an all-island native industry exhibition will be held — possibly at Sabina Park. The exhibition, which is being organised by Mr. T. H. Beecher, shopkeeper in Kingston, should have been held towards the latter part of last year, but owing to certain circumstances, it had to be postponed.

   It is learnt that several prominent gentlemen in the island have taken an interest in the venture, and it is understood that the patrons are likely to include the Hon. Sir William Morrison, Kt., Mr. Horace V. Myers, M.B.E., President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, and other prominent merchants and planters of the Island.

   A meeting of the committee having charge of the exhibition will be convened shortly, when the scheme will be fully outlined by the organiser.

   This item (on page 10) was apparently the first intimation that the plans for an exhibition of Jamaican products were once again on track. This time, in spite of two postponements, the Exhibition actually took place and was a considerable success. 'Exhibition' Beecher was on the way to earning his nickname! 

Beecher's 'Jamaica Encyclopaedia'

   I have been looking at other aspects of T H Beecher's career, and have found references to a Jamaica Encyclopaedia which he published in 1938. It sounds like a fascinating publication, but so far I cannot find any copies of it in any major library, including the National Library of Jamaica. I hope that someone may be able to come up with at least one copy, from some hidden store!

   These are the references I have found so far:

Daily Gleaner, May 26, 1937

J'CA. ENCYCLOPAEDIA NOW BEING COMPILED

   Mr. T. H. Beecher, we understand, will be publishing a Jamaica Encyclopaedia of not less than three-hundred pages.

   From the proceeds of this book, Mr. Beecher intends to offer one scholarship to each of the three counties, Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. The amount of each scholarship will be £80 tenable for one year.

   In the event of boys obtaining these scholarships, they must select the Hope Farm School, and in the event of girls, the Carron Hall Continuation School.

  During the last two weeks, Mr. Beecher started his activities with regard to the undertaking, and it will take him at least eighteen months to compile the book Mr. Beecher plans to give the entire world the best knowledge possible of this lovely  Island as the Encyclopaedia will include over three hundred coloured pictures of her beautiful scenes and two hundred and eighty-four years of Jamaican history.

Daily Gleaner, May 28, 1937

TAKE NOTICE

   Mr. T.H. Beecher, the publisher of The Jamaica Coronation Souvenir begs to return thanks to the many Advertisers and friends who have expressed their appreciation for such a beautiful number. I am also to ask that those articles and photographs which have not been published on account of factory delay in England, will be published in Jamaica Encyclopaedia which will be a greater and better journal.

   T. H. BEECHER.

Daily Gleaner, September 25, 1937

A JAMAICA ENCYCLOPAEDIA

The West India Committee "Circular" of September 9 says:-

   "A Jamaica Encyclopaedia is to be published by Mr. T. Beecher of 8, Laws Street, Kingston. It will be printed in Great Britain, and from the proceeds of the book, three £80 Scholarships are to be awarded, tenable at the Hope Farm School in the case of a boy, and at the Carron Hall School in the case of a girl."

Daily Gleaner, October 1, 1937

COMING "JAMAICA ENCYCLOPAEDIA"

   Mr. T. H. Beecher is now compiling a Jamaica Encyclopaedia, which will embrace a history of the Island covering a period of 284 years under English occupation. It will also deal with the settlement and development of the Country. It will be profusely illustrated, and as the compiler says:

   "Its objective is a production designed to be the reference volume on Jamaica for all the principal features of the island's life. This work will be first of its kind and will be worthy of a place in every home in the island. Certainly is destined to be in many beyond the seas.

   From the gross proceeds of the venture, three scholarships will be awarded on examination results, one to the County of Cornwall, one to Middlesex and one to Surrey, each of the value of £80, by the Committee that now awards scholarships. These scholarships will be tenable at the Hope Farm School in case of a boy, at the Carron Hall School in case of a girl.

Daily Gleaner, October 20, 1937

SOME FEATURES OF THE JAMAICA ENCYCLOPAEDIA

   The Jamaica Encyclopaedia which Mr. T. H. Beecher is bringing out shortly, is receiving support from people all over the island, and, judging by present indication, Edition I, Volume I will be welcomed by all concerned.

   Already Mr. Beecher has prepared the "dummy" of the book and has received the necessary data and advertisements to ensure the success of the publication.

   Nearly one hundred leading writers of the island are preparing articles on a variety of subjects, which are in keeping with the subtitle of the work - "a dictionary of science, customs, literature, etc. in Jamaica."

   A feature of the book will be the space given to the churches in Jamaica. The first ten pages will be devoted to the several religious denominations in this island and there will be messages from their leaders and informative articles on their historic and spiritual' contribution to the colony.

   Elaborate attention is being paid to the cover and a special design has been worked out on a colour scheme of gold, green and blue, representing the colours of Jamaica - with suitable lettering and illumination.

   Replies to letters which were sent out to the Empire by the publisher have already been coming in, and from what can be seen already, the prospects are highly pleasing.

   The first volume is being rushed with the view of having it on display at the 1938 Glasgow Exhibition.

   The book will be of 500 pages and will be sold at a price which will put it within reach of every Jamaican.

Daily Gleaner, August 25, 1938

REFERENCE VOLUME ON JAMAICA COMING SOON

ENCYCLOPAEDIA JAMAICA WILL BE OFF PRESS SOON.

   Off the press shortly will be Encyclopaedia Jamaica, "a dictionary of arts, science, customs, literature, and general information", which is being published by Mr. T. H. Beecher, well known public man of this city.

   Embracing in general a history of the island, a period covering 284 years under English occupation, settlement and development of the country, objective of Encyclopaedia Jamaica is "a production designed to be the reference volume on Jamaica for all the principal features of the island's life."

   First of its kind, this work will be worthy of a place in every home in the island as it certainly is destined to be in many beyond the seas.

Daily Gleaner, December 8, 1938

MR. T. H. BEECHER'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA

The Editor, Sir: - A copy of Mr.T. H. Beecher's Encyclopaedia of Jamaica has just reached me and in duty bound I must congratulate him on his splendid bit of work and hard work which took him nearly two years to accomplish.

   A master piece in arts, science, customs, literature and general information of Jamaica and a wonderful bit of advertising medium for Jamaica abroad.

   Undoubtedly, this Encyclopaedia of Mr. Beecher is not so surprising as he had already brought off successfully the All-Jamaica Industrial Trade Exhibition of 1934 and Jamaica and Empire Exhibition 1934 with such great commercial results for Jamaica.

   This only shows that there are among us great men who are still alive to the interests and possibilities of the Country's future.

   Every one who becomes the owner of this latest bit of work of Mr. Beecher must treasure it, for it is so full of interest from start to finish, and this congratulation

to Mr. Beecher would be incomplete if the enterprising business firm who contribute to make his work so successful, were not congratulated also.

   I am, etc.,

   THEO. MOODIE.

   13½ North Parade. Kingston

   Dec. 4, 1938.

Daily Gleaner, December 17, 1938

   Mr. T. H . Beecher, compiler of the Jamaica Encyclopaedia begs to return thanks  for the many letters and postcards received for producing such a lovely Magazine, giving the information it contained. All members of the Royal Commission spoke highly of the characteristic way the Magazine were laid out. The compiler has also posted fifty copies to the Mother Country, England, also Canada and the United States of America, which include the members of the Royal Family. The Gleaner Company must be commended for the noble bit of work. Thanks also gracefully to the business men and merchants who took part to make the book a success. Copies can be had from T. H. Beecher at 21/- per copy. 4 East Avenue, Newton Square, Kgn.

Daily Gleaner, April 22, 1939

   Mr. T. H. Beecher, publisher of the Jamaica Encyclopaedia will do honour to the famous five Jamaica College boys by starring them in the second edition of the Encyclopaedia which shortly goes to press. Five whole pages of tales and photographs of the intrepid adventure will be included.

 

   I suspect that one reason for the 'disappearance' of Beecher's Encyclopaedia is that it came out during the year before war broke out in September 1939. During the war years book production was drastically restricted - I clearly remember those austerity-printed and hard-to-come-by books I got for my wartime birthdays! By 1945 everything had moved on, and Beecher was involved with other matters; the Jamaica Encyclopaedia was never revived.

more on Beecher's exhibition project

   T H Beecher had founded the Native Traders' Protective Association in July 1929,  but it was only in November that an exhibition of Jamaican products became the foremost project of the group.

 On November 1, at a meeting held on 'the steps of the Ward Theatre', it was revealed -

'that the society intends to hold an exhibition towards the middle of January when exhibits from all over the island will be on show.
   The place where the exhibition will be held will be announced shortly, and it is the intention of the Executives to ask His Excellency the Governor, Sir Edward Stubbs, G.C.M.G., to open the exhibition.'
 

   References to an exhibition in January 1930 continued through November:

'The forthcoming exhibition which is being arranged by the officers of the society promises to be a big event. It is understood that many well known officials and prominent gentlemen of the island have decided to become patrons of the Show. The Hon. Sir William Morrison Kt. it is learnt, is being asked to interest himself in the event and it is most likely that the officers of the Kingston C.C. will give the Association the use of Sabina Park to hold the exhibition.
   Mr. S. Hall of Kingston will be in charge of the exhibition and along with the members of the committee are making extensive preparations to make the exhibition a brilliant success.'

Daily Gleaner, November 23, 1929

It does appear a little unlikely that adequate arrangements could have been made in so short a period, but in the event the Association itself disintegrated in December 1929, and the exhibition idea disappeared with it. It seems there was a falling out among the leaders of the Association; Beecher attempted to reorganise his group on a new footing, but without success. There are one or two further references to the group, but it had no later history. 

   In August 1931 when the exhibition project was revived the comment was made that

'The exhibition, which is being organised by Mr. T. H. Beecher, shopkeeper in Kingston, should have been held towards the latter part of last year, but owing to certain circumstances, it had to be postponed.'

This seems to be a reference back to the plans for an exhibition in 1930, which because of 'certain circumstances' were abandoned. The new project was to have a very different history!