Frank Cundall

Born in London in 1858, Frank Cundall was the son of writer and publisher Joseph Cundall. Early in his career he worked around major exhibitions in London and later catalogued the art library at what became the Victoria and Albert Museum, building the research skills that shaped his writing.

In 1891 he moved to Kingston to become secretary and librarian of the Institute of Jamaica, a post he held for the rest of his life. There he became one of the key custodians of Jamaica’s printed and historical record, writing and editing books on the island’s history, heritage, and institutions.

Cundall is especially remembered for works such as Historic Jamaica and Studies in Jamaica History, which helped document buildings, events, and public figures at a time when much of that material was not easily accessible. He died in 1937, leaving behind a body of work that remains valuable to readers interested in Jamaican history and culture.