Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony called it an “extremely valuable” collection saying the country is grateful to Williams’ family for preserving and donating it. Williams bequeathed what has been described as his personal library to his daughter, Morag Williams, who recently decided to have it preserved at the Walter Roth Museum.
Williams’ wife, Toni Williams, handed over the collection to Anthony yesterday. She expressed hope that researchers, particularly students would have access to the collection. She said too that her late husband’s personal equipment including his microscope and camera were also donated to the museum. His Icon and Image manuscripts, which cover his work in Africa, were also handed over yesterday to the Museum of African Heritage yesterday.
Director of Culture within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr James Rose said the museum now has the opportunity to create the appropriate ambiance for Williams’ work. He said the vast collection would be catalogued over the coming months and changes would be made to the room where it is currently being housed. Further, he said the museum would rename the room in dedication to Williams.
Dr Denis Williams, an artist and archaeologist, founded the Walter Roth Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and also the Burrowes School of Art while he was the Director of Art. He is credited with playing a profound role in shaping the visual arts here and was an internationally accomplished artist, novelist and archaeologist. He passed away in 1998.
