About

“From Dat Time”: The Oral & Public History Institute of the University of The Bahamas invites you to explore Ramble Bahamas.  The site can be explored by browsing individual stories, browsing Rambles, or through interacting with the map. Each place-based story includes a narrative which centers on an historically significant site or object. Additional context is built through the inclusion of oral history audio clips, historical images, documents, and contemporary photographs. Rambles provide a guided form of experiencing the website based on a theme or event and consist of individual stories linked together.  Finally, you can browse the website through the interactive map.  Selecting a marker icon will open a window which presents you with the story associated with the site.  Selecting "Show Current Location" will allow the browser to find your location relative to the site.  Enjoy exploring!

 Rambling

For many Bahamians who grew up in or near the countryside the word ramble has affectionate connotations. To ramble, in Bahamian parlance, means to leap from topic to topic; but it also means to wander in unhurried and enjoyable fashion under sparkling skies through the coppice forest that covers parts of the archipelago of islands. Sometimes, of course, an act of physical rambling may lead one to unexpected treasure. In The Bahamas, one might stumble upon land crabs marching to the sea, or upon dry underground caves, or deep blue holes, or hidden lakes fringed with vaulting mangrove roots. Such encounters with creatures and things lying without may prompt one to mull what lies within: in the quick-witted mind, or in the determined heart, or in the despairing soul, or in the impassioned spirit. Our hope is that as you stroll through texts and voices and images that make up the Ramble Bahamas historical discourse what will come to light for you, in the end, is treasure that lies within.

"FDT"

“From Dat Time”: The Oral & Public History Institute is located in the Harry C. Moore Library at the University of The Bahamas. The Institute was established in 2013 as part of the College of the Bahamas’ process of transitioning to university status. “FDT” documents the historical experience of Bahamians mainly through the use of oral history methods. It develops scholarly, curricular and recreational materials in a variety of media. It invests in building a cohort of academic and public historians. Its work, conceived in the context of the University’s nation-building mandate, is intended to do more than advance the research of academic and independent investigators. Its work is also intended to affirm the value of the experiences of community elders. Its work is intended, too, to expand historical resources that are available to primary- and secondary-school teachers and students and to the wider community.

Currently the Institute’s research programme focuses on four themes: Bahamian participation in World War II, national politics in the postwar era, the evolution of the nursing profession, and the development of the sportfishing industry.

Our Team

Ramble Bahamas's founding team continues to guide the evolution of the site. Editor Tracey Thompson, Director of "FDT", and Associate Editor Jessica Dawson work closely together to maintain the site and to orchestrate ongoing exhibit development.