Jersey history becomes more accessible as archives merge

Friday 23 September 2022

It’s now easier than ever before for islanders to carry out research about Jersey’s history after two of the biggest heritage catalogues merged.

The culmination of several years of work, there are now more than 800,000 descriptions online of items held across the collections, many of which have images attached in the Jersey Archive online catalogue after Société Jerisiaise was added to it.

"Researchers can now search across the collections of both heritage organisations, allowing them to see documents and photographs that were previously held in different places. Linking up the resources available makes them more accessible to the public, whether they are carrying out research about their family history or on a professional basis," explained Jersey Archive Director Linda Romeril.

For example, when a search is carried out for 'Philip Morel Laurens', the catalogue will now bring together his Occupation Registration Card, his will and the record of his marriage from the Archive, as well as a photograph of Philip on a bicycle taken in 1906, which is part of the Société Jersiaise Photo Archive.

We’ve been working with heritage partners @Soc_Jersiaise and @SJPhotoArchive to merge our records into one online resource, making is easier to search across both collections. Take a look at https://t.co/qhkIcO3qUu. #WorkingTogether #Archives #OnlineResearch @GovJersey pic.twitter.com/ryYdrKxeL7

— Jersey Heritage (@loveheritage) September 21, 2022

When a search is carried out for 'Philip Morel Laurens', the catalogue will bring together his Occupation Registration Card, his will and the record of his marriage from the Archive, as well as a photograph of Philip on a bicycle taken in 1906, which is part of the Société Jersiaise Photo Archive.

Patrick Cahill, Archivist at the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive, added that the merger marked the "starting point" for Société in a wider "mission... to keep improving services and bringing value to our community."

"The joint online catalogue will allow a wider public to discover the collections of the Lord Coutanche Library, which supports the work of the Société Jersiaise by collecting and preserving material relating to Jersey's history, prehistory, natural environment and language. The Library's catalogue contains, among other things, publications in English and French, maps, prints, manuscripts and archives," added Société Librarian Valérie Noël.