Frank Cundall

author

Frank Cundall

1858–1937

An English-born writer, art expert, and editor who became a key figure in Jamaica’s cultural life, he spent decades documenting the island’s history and helping shape its public institutions. His books remain a useful window into Jamaica in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

1 Audiobook

Historic Jamaica

Historic Jamaica

by Frank Cundall

About the author

Born on January 17, 1858, Frank Cundall was the son of publisher and writer Joseph Cundall. Early in his career he worked around art and exhibitions in England, including major international exhibitions in London, and he also contributed to museum and library work.

He is best known for his long association with Jamaica after becoming secretary and librarian of the Institute of Jamaica in 1891. In that role, he helped build collections, supported research, and wrote or edited many works on Jamaican history, travel, and public life.

Cundall died on November 15, 1937. Remembered as an energetic chronicler of Jamaica, he left behind a substantial body of writing that blended scholarship, record-keeping, and a clear enthusiasm for the island’s past.