THE day after a splendid evening of poetry, music and tributes at the Kingston Theatre Guild Playhouse, the National Library, friends and colleagues of late poet, A. J. Seymour gathered at his former residence, 23 North Road, Bourda, also in Georgetown, for the public unveiling of a plaque mounted on the building.

The mounting of the memoriam is one of a series of events to honour the 100th birth anniversary of Seymour.
The memento was unveiled by Seymour’s daughter, Ms. Joan Seymour, who shared the touching moment with writer and literary activist, Mr. Petamber Persaud.
She remarked that the building held many memories for her, as she had lived there for some time before going to pursue studies in Caracas, Venezuela.
She observed that, though, the edifice had changed in its configuration, some of its essential elements still remained.
Writer Ian McDonald, who had co-edited the Kyk-over-Al journal with Seymour from 1984 until the latter’s death in 1989, concurred that the place also held remembrances for him and expressed the hope that the site would always be preserved.

Historical one
Acting Chief Librarian, Ms. Emiley King said the day was an historical one for the National Library, as she praised the late former Chief Librarian, Ms. Gillian Thompson’s contribution to the event.
King remarked that she was happy but also a bit sad as “Gillian should have been here”. Thompson had, at the commencement of the centennial year of the National Library in 2009, embarked on a series of activities to promote the outstanding works and achievements of Guyanese literary luminaries.
The institution hosted a number of literary evenings under varying themes such as ‘Oral Traditions’, ‘A Morning with E.R. Braithwaite’ and ‘To Sir with Love: A Guyanese Version’.
Other staffers of the National Library and Seymour’s niece, Dr. Jacqueline de Weever were also present at the function.
Arthur James Seymour made an enormous contribution to the literature of Guyana and the Caribbean. Apart from being a prolific writer of poetry, he was an anthologist, editor, publisher, broadcaster, cultural historian and literary enabler.
As a poet, his work included ‘Verse’ (1937), ‘More Poems’ (1940), ‘Over Guiana Clouds’ (1944) and ‘Suns in my Blood’ (1945). As an anthologist he produced ‘Treasury of Guyanese Poetry’ and ‘Kyk-over-Al’ ‘Anthology of Guianese Poetry’ among others.
He also compiled ‘Dictionary of Guianese Folklore’ and the ‘Dictionary of Guyanese Biography’ (1984) and wrote the ‘Making of Guyanese Literature’ (1978).
Born January 12, 1914, he was educated at Blackman’s School located on Regent Street, St. Phillip’s School on Smythe Street, Collegiate High School, Camp and Bent Streets and the Guianese Academy, from where he won the Government Junior Scholarship to enter Queen’s College (QC).
Seymour worked at the General Post Office and Bureau of Public Information (BPI), where he became Chief Information Officer. He was a member of a number of groups and committees, too, including Public Free Library Committee and Guyana Textbook Committee.
On July 31, 1937 he married Elma Bryce and the union bore three daughters and three sons.
He edited the literary journal Kyk-over-Al from 1945-1961 and co-edited with Ian McDonald from 1984 until his death on December 25, 1989.
Other events to honour Seymour include ‘See More Poetry’, which took place last Sunday evening at the Theatre Guild Playhouse and the induction of Seymour into the National Library’s Hall of Fame for the Literary Arts that will happen tomorrow, Wednesday, January 15, at the National Library.
An exhibition of his work is ongoing at the National Library.

(by Michelle Gonsalves)