Trouble in Paradise

This article examines how the Circum-Caribbean region’s cultural and geographic complexities make it difficult to describe or index relevant archival materials using mainstream authority controls used in galleries, libraries, archives, museums (GLAMs). difficulty stems from fact that utilised by GLAMs are primarily created North American European authorities and, therefore, have Western-centric views imbued with colonialist overtones. When these systems catalogue, index, Circum-Caribbean-related collection materials, a tension arises: system white, Euro-American perspective is applied material reflective of significantly multicultural place, culture, subject, population. The rigidity controlled vocabularies their applications—which typically follow specific indexing methodologies—cannot accommodate fluidity necessary accurately denote complex region, especially regard indexing. demonstrates difficulties emerge trying delimit define Caribbean region; provides an abbreviated analysis Circum-Caribbean’s representation Getty Thesaurus Geographic Names® (TGN), which mirrors defining delimiting presents case study West Indian Postcard Collection at Cambridge University Library was indexed augmented applications TGN. research presented this paper supports theory employing both general strategies creates enhanced access Caribbean-related enabling regional, sub-regional, territorial/national avenues retrieve materials.