The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive is a historical collection of photographs related to Jersey, it was established by the Société Jersiaise which focuses on the island’s history, culture, and heritage. The archive has its origins in the late 19th century when the society recognised the importance of preserving visual records of the island’s past. Over the years, the archive has grown significantly and now includes a vast collection of over 125,000 photographs representing various eras, from the earliest days of photography to the present. The images document Jersey’s landscapes, people, architecture, and daily life, providing valuable insights into the island’s history and evolution. Looking at pictures from the past, we can learn a great deal about our islands social, economic, and cultural development. Photographs capture moments in time, offering a look into the island’s changing landscapes, architecture, fashion, transportation, and societal norms. Archiving and organising our personal images and text messages is increasingly important and frequent in the digital age. These archives can reveal a lot about an individual’s life and experiences. On a societal level, the way we archive and manage digital information speaks to our technological advancements and understanding of our future. As technology evolves, so do our methods of organising and preserving digital records, reflecting broader trends and values.
William Collie, born in 1810 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lived in Jersey from 1850 to 1878 where he lived in Belmont Road and Bath Street, he became one of the photographic paper print pioneers. He was one of the first photographers in Jersey to use the calotype after he started his career in portrait painting. One of his most popular works is the “French and Jersey Market Women” collection which is the oldest set of images (signed and dated) taken in Jersey, over 174 years ago. The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive lists 157 photographs by William Collie, however none of them can be viewed online. His photography was a mixture of candid and professional portraits as he explored lower- and upper-class subjects and how they lived in Jersey. He used their working or living environment and their clothing as a way to show the heavy separation between classes in the 19th century. As Collie was one of the only photographers at the time, his images are some of the only ways to visually understand this time period. The image below is one of the earliest photographs printed on paper, it is Collie’s portrait of Jersey market women in 1847.
Wiktoria worked with Adobe Audition regarding the sound we would use in the film.
She used a mixture of the sounds we collected from the castle and also sounds that were collected by Sam, an audio producer we worked with. These were filed in the ‘Elizabeth Castle Sound library’.
“What I had to do is filter each sound I wanted to use so it was “clean”; the background noises were eliminated as much as possible. I could quiet down each element of the sound to a desired level.”
“In Adobe Audition I was able to combine different sounds together to create a sound scheme. I decided to create one consisting of seagulls and the sound of the sea. After cleaning and filtering the sounds, I inserted them and made sure to save them as a collection, so I know they are a combination of sounds joint together. This makes a great background track as a sound that is ongoing or primary sound that shapes the mood of the film. Another combination that would have worked well is maybe the sea and people talking in the distance.”
“Working with sound is very important when it comes to films – there are even specific jobs that revolve around people making sound effects on anything that is being filmed to produce the cleanest sound possible so that the quality of it increases the authenticity of the scene. One of the things that make a great movie is how well the viewer is engaged with it. The more interested they are in the movie the more successful it will be. Sound serves as a vital aspect of cinematography as it affects the mood, and heightens peoples emotions. For example, when the sound is calming but a sudden bang appears, combined with the image being displayed, a viewer is more likely to get scared due to an impulsive reaction based on what they are seeing and hearing.
This is why I would need to use sound that is relevant to what is being shown. Elizabeth Castle is segregated from the land and is surrounded by the sea. Therefore, sounds like the sea, wind, or seagulls are most appropriate. It is important that the sounds I use are not random and link to what is being shown.”
Archives are used to store knowledge, this can be in many formats, including paper documents, photographs, digital files, audio recordings, video recordings, and more. They make historical information accessible to the public. They serve several important functions, these being:
Preservation of material: Archives safeguard and protect valuable historical records so they can be accessible for generations to come. This includes different techniques to prevent deterioration, like proper storage etc.
Access: Archives make historical materials available to researchers, scholars, and the general public. This is typically provided through finding aids, catalogues, and, in some cases, digitization efforts that allow people to explore these resources online.
Research: Researchers, historians, genealogists, and students often rely on archives to access primary source materials for their studies and projects. They can contain a wealth of information, such as letters, diaries, photographs, official documents, etc.
Documentation of history: Archives play a crucial role in documenting the history of individuals, organizations, communities, and societies. They provide insight into the past and contribute to a better understanding of historical events and cultural heritage.
Archives may be specialized, focusing on a particular topic, period, or region. They can also vary in size, from small local collections to vast national or international archives.
Archives can take various forms, including:
Physical archives that can be found in libraries, museums, government buildings, universities, and other institutions and digital archives, as, over the past few years it has become difficult to visit archives, many archives have digitized their material for it to remain accessible.
The Société Jersiaise focuses on Jersey history and has everything about it ranging from what the Island looked like hundreds of years ago to peoples’ registration cards during the Occupation.
In summary, archives are important safeguarders of knowledge as they collect and make accessible historical records. They play a key role in advancing research, education and cultural and historical preservation.
These are the pictures we took at Elizabeth castle. Majority of them were successful outcomes, as the quality of the images are quite high. The weather was very overcast on the day we went which was an advantage for us for the soft, even lighting and no harsh shadows. It also helped set the the mood of our images, the dimmer lighting representing the dark times the soldiers went through during the wars.
I imported all the images from the shoot onto light room classic, then looked through them and selected the best outcomes, worthy of editing.
For our film, we plan on only using still images. This is because although we did get the chance to film some of the castle, none of the clips came out the way we expected. They were all bad quality, so we made the right decision of making our film from still images.
– B.J.R Blench The Jersey Cholera Epidemic of 1832 Annual Bulletin – Vol. 19 pg. 4 – 5
Archives are an accumulation of historical documents, records, or materials of any medium that are stored for the purposes of providing evidence of the past and of people that have lived and experienced things before us, and for the purpose of knowledge. Archives are repositories (placed where things are or can be stored) of knowledge in this sense, as they hold all kinds of information than can be useful to us in the modern day. In Jersey, there is a large and diverse archive managed by the Société Jersiaise, which is used to store and maintain old information that people today can use to learn from the island’s history, whether it’s for personal use or a larger project. The preservation of this knowledge is essential to keeping track of events that have occurred in the past, and can often be useful for the future, such as for predicting changes in land erosion through old maps and charts, or seeing how past generations dealt with large issues such as epidemics or bad weather that cuts off supplies from the mainland. Even today, most people have their own personal archives, such as photographs documenting events like weddings and parties, or even photos on their mobile phones, which can usually be stored and organised to whatever way the person desires, which can be useful for keeping track of their own life and what they do.
The Société Jersiaise, founded in 1873 by a small group of Jersey’s prominent islanders, has their own large archive, with over 125,000 publicly available photographs in their photographic archives alone, dating back to as early as the mid-1840s, just years after the invention of the daguerreotype; one of the first methods of modern photography. This information is all organised, so much so that they have dedicated sections to the photography of various local photographers, such as Henry Mullins, Claude Cahun, Edwin Dale, Clarence Philip Ouless and several more. The organisation of an archive is imperative to its function, as without it, especially at the size of Société Jersiaise’s archive, it becomes incredibly difficult to find something even slightly relevant to what someone might want to look for. As this archive in particular is digitised, the organisation of it is so much simpler as compared to physical archives, like the National Archives for a specific country, such as the UK. These archives are organised by vague topics in a system that whatever agency thinks suits it best, for example, an archival agency might log blueprints for a building under ‘infrastructure,’ ‘architecture’ or whatever they feel is a relevant title. After this point, some archives might index and catalogue these documents for the purpose of making them easier to access, or put them in there loosely and leave it at that.
– Walker Evans Beauties of the Common Tool – 1955
This can also help provide context to media stored in archives, as especially with photography, without any topic or place associated with it, an image can become meaningless. Take photographer Walker Evans’ portfolio Beauties of the Common Tool, for example, looking at it from a regular perspective, the portfolio literally features photographs of tools. Without the given context, it can easily be mistaken for something that isn’t a form of contemporary art. With the context provided however, people in hundreds of years’ time can look at it from the perspective of it being art. Additionally, with context we have a better idea of when the material was created, even if there’s only a rough date, it can provide more insight into life for the author at the time of creation, or a statement on the world as a whole.
– Henry Mullins – Portrait of the artist Mr Poingdestre
Photographers such as Henry Mullins had their own photography studios in Jersey in the late 1840s, where he took portraits of important members of Jersey society and others who could afford it for family and group portraits using the medium of cartes de visite – a small photograph that was often kept in wallets, purses and lockets – which is important to look back on now in the modern day, as it gives us an exact rendition of what people wore, how they looked, and even the diversity of people that were present on the island at the time, or wealthy enough to afford the portraits, along with the technology available to the public. This knowledge can be important for a variety of reasons, which is exactly why the information needs to be stored properly and in an organised, easy-to-find manner. Although Mullins’ work does all this, it can also be considered an inaccurate portrayal of Jersey’s history, as the working classes typically were unable to afford to have their photographs taken, which means what we often see from his work weren’t providing an idea of society as a whole at the time.
– Henry Mullins – Portrait of Victor Hugo, 1860
Take this portrait of Victor Hugo, for example. Also taken by Henry Mullins, it shows the French Senator making a serious and direct mode of address with the viewer, wearing a smart yet tousled suit, which could imply that he works in an esteemed profession, such as a writer, politician, etc. The photograph bears a relatively low contrast, the main focal point being Hugo’s clothing as it holds the darkest tones, contrasting the colour of the card. I find this portrait to be interesting because of the soft blend of the dark tones together, despite the crispness and intense detail on such a small medium. The image is placed on a cartes de visite, and features Mullins’ signature along with the year it was taken. The yellowed background of the cartes de visite creates a warm, nostalgic tone that could bring back memories of older family members or people that have records of their lives taken on similar mediums of photography. The piece itself doesn’t display too much history of the island, but it provides a record of people who were on the island at the time; like Hugo. It also shows that suits and formal attire were more prominently worn in day-to-day life, as most of Mullins’ subjects wore similar clothing in their cartes de visites. The picture doesn’t fit the whole frame however, and feathers off around the edges and in the lightest areas of the composition, which I feel reflects the technology of the time quite well. I find that the use of the cartes de visite as a photographic medium creates a more lifelike feel to the image that modern cameras can’t recreate, which I believe is the most compelling part of this photo.
In conclusion, archives are imperative for remembering and learning about the past, and can inform us on specific social practices that aren’t around, or that are done differently today. Additionally, each element of the archive is useful in its own way, and when put together can help someone build a greater and more accurate perspective of the world, and the island, at the time, and each new piece of information only benefits this. I think that the aesthetic look of older photography would be useful for the nostalgia project, as the tones are quite warm and could remind a viewer of a time they look back on fondly. I could also respond by editing these features into my imagery, as a film camera and the film for it like this would be far too costly for it to be justified.
I have worked with Adobe Audition regarding the sound we would use in the film.
I used a mixture of the sounds colected, from the castle by me but also sounds that was collected by Sam. These were titles Elizabeth Castle Sound library.
What I had to do is filter each sound I wanted to use, this meant it was “clean” meaning the background noises were eliminated as best as possible. I could quiet down each element of the sound to a desired level.
When selecting effects rack-filter and EQ-parametric equaliser- the above graph is a graph representing the frequencies , by selecting the HP, this blocks the lowest frequencies and the lowest pitch, and the LP blocks the higher frequencies and higher pitch.
there are 2 different lines and the yellow is responsible for the volume, meaning moving it up or down will either quiet it or make the sound louder.
In adobe audition I was able to combine different sounds together to create a sound scheme. I decided to create one consisting of seagulls and the sound of the sea. after cleaning and filtering the sounds I have inserted them in and made sure to save them as a collection, so I know they are a combination of sounds joint together. this makes a great background track, so a sound that is ongoing or primary sound that shapes the mood of the film. other combinations that would have worked well is maybe the sea and people talking in the distance.
Working with sound is a very important aspect when it comes to films, there are even specific jobs that revolve around people making sound effects or anything that is being filmed, this is to produce a cleanest sound possible so that the quality of it increases the realness of the movie. one of the things that make a great movie is how well the viewer is engaged with it. the more interested they are in the movie the more successful it will be. Sound serves as a vital aspect when it comes to cinematography as it affects the mood, and heightens peoples emotions. for example when the sound is calming and a sudden bang appears, this mixed with the image being displayed, a person is more likely to get scared due to the sound as its an impulse reaction based on what they are seeing and hearing.
This is why I would need to use sound that is relevant to what is being shown. Elizabeth castle is segregated from the land and is surrounded by the sea, therefore sound like the sea, wind, seagulls are most applicable. it is important the sounds I use are not random and link to what is being shown.
Essentially Elizabeth Castle is a little islet in St Aubin’s bay that has protected Jersey for over 4 hundred years. Back in the 17th century, and after, it was used to battle wars and defend Jersey from incoming rivals etc. Now it has become more of a tourist attraction or somewhere to visit on a day out. With a ferry type vehicle and a short causeway walk, it attracts many people in the summer whether is it for the scenic views or the historical factors and value that it holds. The castle has become a very sentimental part of Jersey holding much historical value throughout.
what was it made for:
The history began in 1590’s when it was called home to Sir Walter Raleigh while he was Governor of Jersey. It was only in the 1600s when it was decided that jersey needed a new castle as Mont Orgueil had become outdated and wasn’t secure enough to hold all of the soldiers, defend Jersey adequately as well as store all of the weapons and machinery that they had gained including cannons and gunpowder. It was then decided that they would use the islet in St Aubin’s to build the new castle. It was built in 1601 and was first used in the English civil war in the 17th century. During the English Civil war the future King Charles II sought refuge at the castle as well as during the German Occupation. The castle was refortified as the strongest point during the battles as it had view of the harbour to see anything incoming the Island. Following this is was used many times after to defend Jersey and is now one of Jerseys most treasurable monuments.
our film:
For our film we are going to focus it on the battle of Jersey and daily tasks that a gunner would do. We will create a documentary style video to show viewers the types of things that would happen at the castle back then. Within the film we are going to use sound audios that will be recorded there and videos that we have shot. In the editing process we are going to add music audios to parts of it and may also use the original video sound at times.
battle of jersey:
The battle of Jersey took place on the 6th of January 1781, whereby Jersey acted as a military stand point between France and Britain. After a long day of battling Britain took the victory and Jersey were loyal to the English crown.
The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive holds Jersey’s collection of archives, containing over 125,000 items dating from the mid-1840s to the present day. A photographic archive is a collection of photographs, often with accompanying materials in other formats, in the course of daily life, individuals and organizations create and keep information about their personal and business activities. These records, and the places they are kept, are called “archives.” Archival records take many forms, including correspondence, diaries, financial and legal documents, photographs, and moving image and sound recordings. Archivists identify and preserve these documents of lasting value. Established in 1873 the Société is a registered Jersey Charity, in which they research collections, community outreach and collaboration with local and international heritage partners. They produce and facilitate research on the Island’s history, culture, language and environment; and to share that knowledge with the widest possible audience for the benefit of our island community. The Société holds extensive bibliographic, cartographic, photographic and research collections which act as our long-term memory. These collections provide a vital resource informing contemporary study and value for the community through a greater understanding of our shared heritage, identity and environment.
Historical archives can be stored in different ways; manuscripts, documents, records (including electronic records), objects, sound and audio visual materials, or other materials. They are living documents, records of the trends and habits of the cultural sector, notations of the changing hands of objects, and the shifting identities of the people and organisations who create and manage them. Different archives function in different ways, however the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive stores archives digitally on their website. They hold many archives such as photographic, architecture, bibliography’s, and publications (in a library). Photographic archives can provide glimpses into past lives, long-ago events, and forgotten places. They can help shape our understanding of culture, history, and the identity of the people who appear in them. The photographic archive captures a range of subjects such as documentation such as the islands wildlife, the geography of the island, images of the local population and also significant historical island events.
The Societe Jersiaise aims are to (“produce and facilitate research on the Island’s history, culture, language, and environment; and to share that knowledge with the widest possible audience for the benefit of our island community”). Photographic archives have become way in which we can see the revolution and changes in the world, the Society Jersiaise is to share this information and historical knowledge to the public. They achieve this through their active Sections, research collections, community outreach and collaboration with local and international heritage partners, The Société’s Sections specialise in various fields of study, from archaeology to zoology.
Ernest Baudoux, one of the photographers on the Societe Archive produced a panorama of St Helier, soon after his arrival to Jersey. He was born in 1828, and conducted his photographic work in jersey in 1829. Ernest had a total of 1350 of his images primarily focusing on portraits, these are accessible to view on the jersey heritage website. The process he used to create the image is particularly interesting, the process he used required considerable skill. Producing “wet collodion” images on location required a mobile (often horse drawn) darkroom in which plates could be coated and sensitised, exposed while still wet, and developed immediately. The panorama shows the architecture of St Helier in tremendous detail. Numerous of Baudoux studio portraits were produced with a sliding plate mechanism designed to give two exposures on one glass negative. Later following by choosing the best images he often removed the ‘reject’ by marking it with a cross. Having selected his preferred image, Baudoux retouched the negative to enhance the complexion of the subject and conceal facial blemishes. This effect shows that the practice of photographic manipulation originated long before the digital age.
Archives are a way to hold documents, images, videos, recording and more. Archives in photography are where many old, historical images are held, often in libraries or museums. Many of the images help us to understand to this day what things were like back then and how photography has evolved. The Société Jersiaise archives is an educational charity and is known for having over 15,000 images of portraits of named people as well as images of the island including even bay, the valleys and more. Not only does it hold older images but also newer image that will be held for the future and for memories. It is an important cultural heritage value that Jersey is lucky to have. They have be producing and documenting things from archeology, geology, ecology and economy, to community, architecture and culture for the past 150 years through the form of photographic material. The archives hope to provide a way to reflect on the past life and events through their multiple collections.
artist zoom in: Percival Dunham
Percival Dunham was a photographer journalist since 1911, and photographed events such as the Jersey Battle of Flowers and the grounding of the roebuck at St Brelade’s Bay. He left Jersey in 1914 to serve in 503 Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War 1. As little is known about him, it is assumed that he moved to the island in the latter half of 1911. After the war he moved back to Jersey and lived here until his death in 1961. On the 7th of April an exhibition was opened at the Jersey Art Centre featuring a large number of his images collected from the Société Jersiaise archives. Overall Dunham produced a remarkable amount of images of Jersey all over the island about life before and after the Great War. It is said that Dunham’s style of images was ahead of his time which is why they were so greatly impactful.
image analysis:
conclusion:
To conclude, I think that archives are more than just gatekeeping old photos or documents but a way of holding the history of Jersey and knowledge that can be passed on to understand it. Not only do these photos show us how the Island was back then but they also hold deep stories that are very meaningful to many people and can show us how Jersey has evolved and developed since. I also believe that history in involved in everyones lives whether its to do with family, traditions or architecture etc. Within many of the photos that the Société Jersiaise archives hold we can see these aspects throughout. this makes the images more sentimental and hold greater meaning. Some of what the images capture is still on the island to this day showing its importance to Jersey and how islanders treasure it.
