Cayman Islands National Archive (CINA)

Overview

The Cayman Islands National Archive (CINA) is the territory's lead agency for records and information management and the custodian of its documentary heritage, based on Archive Lane in Grand Cayman. It operates under the National Archive and Public Records Act.

History

The National Archive was established as a government department and, following several years of operation, officially opened in 1994, the same year Queen Elizabeth II made her second visit to the islands. Its legal foundation was later consolidated under the National Archive and Public Records Act (2015 Revision). In its early years the archive undertook extensive research to help document a comprehensive history of the Cayman Islands, including collecting copies of colonial-era records from institutions such as The National Archives in England and the Jamaica Archives.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

CINA's Historical Collections include government records, photographs, maps, audio and film recordings, and an extensive Oral History Programme documenting first-hand accounts of Caymanian life. Finding aids cover genealogical records, vertical files of donated material, moving image and photographic collections, and indexes to Cayman Islands laws and government notices. The Archive also maintains copies of colonial-era correspondence relating to the islands held by overseas repositories.

Access and Usage

The Archive serves both the public and government departments: for government, it operates a records centre and manages official records from creation through disposal or transfer to the Historical Collections; for the public, researchers may apply for a Reader's Ticket to consult the Historical Collections in the reading room, generally by appointment.