It was not such a long time ago -- in the 1930s. A young child, growing up and reaching out, was denied admittance to the Bermuda Public Library -- because he was black.

In 1985, the same young boy, long since grown to manhood, returned to that library as head librarian. Bermuda had changed. There had been progress.

Cyril Outerbridge Packwood was an historian by nature as well as by education.

Growing up in St. George's may have had something to do with it. He had history all around him, metaphorically from St. Peter's Church to Shinbone Alley. Also his father, a champion Cup Match cricketer, was a walking, talking book on St. George's.

Although working as a librarian abroad for many years, Cyril was very familiar with the Bermuda Library and friendly with the staff. A lover of children, he was delighted to see them in their own library close to the main building and he brought his daughter there for her first library card.

Frequenting the library often, he became aware of what he felt was a sparsity of material on black Bermudians, who are the majority ethnic group on the Island. He felt that his people who had helped to build this island from the sweat of their brow, should be better represented in its history and literature. He decided to do something about it.

The value of history is known by the African griots, who are professional oral historians who often to the accompaniment of string music, relate with dramatic oratory the history of a people. This power was also acknowledged by ancient people who sat around campfires listening to the heroic exploits of their forefathers. Written history, if not more enjoyable in passage, was infinitely more accessible. Cyril Packwood was determined that the library should be enabled to play a more active role in the dissemination of information on the black majority.

He knew that the value of keeping the past, was not only to give perspective to the present, but also for what it could disclose about the nature of man.

The triumphs such as the discovery of the New World, and the humiliations, such as the advent of slavery, were revelationary in defining the human spirit.

As a proud black man, who from his childhood in Bermuda suffered the indignities of quiet (without visual signs) discrimination and racism, he chose to write a book about slavery. He viscerally felt that the story of slavery had to be told from the black point of view.

Cyril Packwood, the person, could never be accused of being bitter or vindictive as he was spiritually endowed to being a man of love. He would be the one to write about this ugly episode of man's cruelty to man with passion and objectivity. His uncanny ability to combine such disparate characteristics endeared him to many people and he was an inviolate maker of friends. The writing of the book became his mission.

After we married in 1958, we came to Bermuda every summer to our own home in Wellington, St. George's beside Cyril's parents, Cyril Sr. and Gladys Packwood. Our daughter Cheryl, loved her grandparents who would often take her with them on bus tours when they came to New York.

Vacations were also the time for Cyril to work at the archives in the library.

I remember vividly how he would come home in the evenings eager to share with us his new information and discoveries. Mr. McDonald, the archivist at the time, was often kept busy unearthing material for the indefatigable Mr.

Packwood. This pattern became our summer programme for about 12 years.

Fortunately, Cyril was never so busy that we would neglect going to the beach.

This was a diversion he loved, especially as he could toss Cheryl into the waves. He was a strong and avid swimmer. Currently living in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, Cheryl brought her three young sons to Bermuda last summer to swim in the waters she loved as a child.

Cyril Packwood's book "Chained on the Rock'' was published in December 1975 (Reprinted 1993). With it he fulfilled his desire to document and tell the story of slavery in Bermuda. His history ends on August 1, 1834 the day of Emancipation and Freedom. It was the first book published on the subject.

I remember the crowd at Baxter's Bookstore on Burnaby Street for his book signing. People waited patiently in line for him to sign their copy as he gave them his inevitable smile and greeting. It seemed as though many were particularly grateful to have their story told at last. His mother often found a place beside him. As it was Christmas time, Cheryl was down from Yale. The book signing became a family affair and we were proud of our star. I remembered his many years of hard work and knew that he felt uplifted and happy.

In 1977, he authored a short book "Detour Bermuda, Destination US House of Representatives'', a biographical work on the life of Joseph Rainey, the first black member of the US House of Representatives who lived in Bermuda during the US Civil War. "Barber's Alley'' in St. George is named after him.

Cyril Packwood often used historical anecdotes in his writing, which he found his young audiences in the schools particularly enjoyed. A popular speaker, he was always eager to share his knowledge with others. That too, was part of his mission.

Sadly, on January 14, 1998, Cyril Outerbridge Packwood's pen was silenced too soon. Efforts will be made to complete a nearly finished manuscript.

History lover: The late Cyril Outerbridge Packwood loved history and travel.

The Packwoods traveled extensively in Africa, Europe and the West Indies.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIS