Storytellers of wonder
A plea by J. Linwood Pitts, Secretary of the Folk Lore section of the Societe Guernesiaise, then the Guernsey Society for Natural History and Local Research) in their Report and Transactions of 1904, p. 313
December 1890
Snow, how our girls can escape degradation, and soup-kitchens, Guille-Alles Library and beginnings of the Societe Guernesiaise, Theatre Royal, Herm overseer, Mr Roger's new premises (SPP), and Sark French, from the local newspapers.
December 22, 1843: Earthquake!
From the Star.
My little brothers: Christmas with Victor Hugo, 1862
From the Gazette de Guernesey, Saturday 27 December, a report on Hugo's Christmas party for deprived children; a letter from Hugo to his wife, whose idea it all was in the first place; and another to the French publisher Castel, in which he plans to donate the proceeds of a new book of drawings to his poor Guernsey protégés. The editor of the Gazette at this time was Hugo's friend and disciple, Guernseyman Henri Marquand. The photograph accompanying this article is dated 1868. It was taken in March by Arsène Garnier. (Another very similar set of photographs was taken by a Jerseyman with a studio in London, named Henry Frankland, in February 1868; the Library has a photographic plate of one of these iconic images.) This particular photograph was popular with the public at the time; they could buy it in the local shops.Article by Dinah Bott.
25 December, 1955: the Christmas Pudding Dive
From the Guernsey Star of 28 December, 1955.
Guernsey in the olden times, by Curio-Antique
From The Star 29 and 31 January 1878. With this fascinating document should be compared the Library's manuscript Notebook of Pierre Henry. Henry, whose ancient house in Berthelot Street is now a tourist attraction, was a wealthy merchant shipowner and ancestor of the Tupper family, through whom the notebook came to the Library.
January 1837
From the Mann-Dobrée letters, in the Library.
Gaol returns 1880
From the Star of January 4, 1881. The following is the list of convicted prisoners from the 1st January to the 31st December 1880:
January 1816: Order-in-Council of February 1660
From the Gazette de Guernesey, January 6, 1816, respecting 'strangers' abusing their position by selling goods retail rather than wholesale and thus undermining the local economy. The 1660 letter from the Privy Council is in its original English: the Gazette provided a translation into French for the benefit of the malefactors, perhaps!
Bouane Debate, February 1819
A poem in Guernsey French, from the Gazette de Guernesey of 19 February, 1819. The title means 'Good riddance!'
Captain Knapp and the Mayflower, February 1762
From The London Chronicle.
Bicycle and Tricycle Club, February 1889
From the Star of February 2nd, 1889; the history of the Club. The cyclist in the photograph is the great champion, Jack Le Tocq, from the Library collection.