The tradition of sending often anonymous cards for St Valentine's Day became popular in Victorian times, and the Lord Coutanche Library holds around 20 cards in the collection.
To celebrate International Archives Day 2016, we have selected an item from the German Occupation collection which illustrates the theme of the event “Archives, Harmony and Friendship”. 1940 -1945 in Jersey was a time of suffering and hardship, but also a period where courage and friendship were demonstrated, and thanks for good deeds were documented. Peter Bokatenko, a young man from Ukraine who was dragged across Europe to Jersey by his German captors, and having escaped from the German authorities as a prisoner of war, found safety and help from a number of Jersey families. He survived thanks to their kindness, particularly that of the local artist Edmund Blampied, who counterfeited seals on an identity card for him, On his return to Russia, Bokatenko sent some very touching messages of thanks to the people who helped him.
These unusual drawings were the result of an experiment in telepathy. The notebook from which they came was owned by Joseph Sinel (1844 – 1929). The subject of the experiments was Elfleda, the only child of his friend Samuel Dancaster. She was around 11 years of age at the time. Sinel drew a picture, and Elfleda drew what she thought he was thinking. The two pictures were often remarkably similar. As a scientist Sinel concluded that this was not supernatural but was an ability that humans had lost in the process of evolution.
The tradition of cider making in Jersey has a very long history, and apart from being a popular local beverage in the 16th century, it was also, by the mid-19th century one of the island’s major exports and part of Jersey’s rich agricultural heritage.
What is an almanac? A smallish book packed with useful local information offering something for everyone, whether you are a social historian, family historian or someone who is simply curious. The origin of the almanac in Jersey starts in 1785, a year after the advent of printing in Jersey at the press of Matthieu Alexandre at St Aubin. The almanac, a spin-off, became a publication in its own right. The monthly Magazin de l’Île de Jersey was followed by L’Almanac historique, utile et curieux. This little book is peppered with diverse facts :- astrological information and predictions, lists of who’s who in the parish police (unpaid) and a general chronology from 1066. In England, Old Moore’s Almanac was first published in England in 1697, and was known for its astrological predictions and is still on sale in newsagents today.
“Happy Release.” On May 14th 1945 Donald Journeaux presented an entertainment extravaganza at the Forum. In our German Occupation collection is a programme signed by the cast. In his book “Raise the White Flag” Donald tells us:-