A. Faulkner Watts papers

1941-1986

Born in 1913, A. Faulkner Watts was the unit historian for the 369th Infantry Regiment during World War II, and the founding president of Blyden Press, Inc. His translation of Haitian historian Jean Fouchard's book, Les Marrons de la liberté, was published by Blyden Press under the title The Haitian Maroons. The author had a special interest in the life and military career of Alexandre Dumas, the mulatto general from St. Domingue (Haiti) and father of the French author by the same name. He also did research in Caribbean folklore, especially the stick fighting tradition in Jamaica. A. Faulkner Watts died in 1998. This collection documents several aspects of Watts's professional life, including the combat role of the all-black 369th Regiment in the Hawaiian Islands during World War II. Also included are research correspondence and photocopies of documents about the life and military career of General Alexandre Dumas, and correspondence with Haitian historian Jean Fouchard. Additional material include transcripts of interviews conducted in Jamaica and Trinidad on the African stick fighting tradition, and the Blyden Press files which illustrate the difficulties of a small independent black publishing house.