What is a Archive and why are they important
A Photographic Archive consists of several valuable and specialized collections of photographs on archaeology, architecture, and art, as well as landscape architecture and gardens. It also includes special collections important to history. All archives have a artefactual value for the history of photography, as well as documentary value for the study and research of their specific subject. Some of the collections have a particular historical and archaeological significance because the photographs record excavations and monuments from the early years of modern archaeology. Archives can be described as image banks, indexes, catalogues of creative endeavour, reference libraries, treasure chests, and more. The Photographic Archive contains photographs of works of art and architecture printed on paper, which have been glued to brown card mounts. Many of these mounts contain information, both handwritten and typed, about the images in the photographs. Photographic archives 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. Although many research institutions have collected and housed such image repositories, and there are essential characteristics that many of them share, each photographic archive is particular to the place in which it was created.
How are archives a repository of knowledge?
Archives serve as a vital repositories of knowledge, housing a diverse range of valuable historical, cultural and scientific materials. These repositories meticulously preserve and organise documents, records and artefacts, ensuring their accessibility for research and public engagement. Archives facilitate the advancement of knowledge by providing researchers with a wealth of primary sources to analyse, interpret and contribute to various fields of study. Additionally, archives serve as a wellspring of inspiration or artists, writers and filmmakers, enabling them to draw upon the rich narratives and imagery contained within archive materials. In essence, archives are indispensable custodians of our collective memory, fostering a deeper understanding of the past and guiding us towards a more enlightened future.
Societe Jersiaise
The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive was founded in January 1873 which helps to supply knowledge and an insight to community’s about Jersey heritage. In Jersey they founded a museum to store all of these archives which is now owned by Jersey heritage. Some of these consist of the wildlife in the island, The evolution of jersey, The battle of Jersey and the geography of Jersey These archives are held in various forms such as documents, drawings, paintings and photos and are kept well preserved and looked after. These archives can also be accessed online and are free to use by the public which is an easy way for them to find the information that is relevant to them. The Société’s mission is 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 and what the past looked like. They interact extensively with the local community; they take part in community outreach schemes, research collections, and their numerous relationships with local partners, Which allows islanders to look more deeply into their own family heritage and the history of their home which strengthens our understanding of Jersey as a place .
Henry Mullins
Henry Mullins started working at 230 Regent Street in London in the 1840s and moved to Jersey in July 1848, setting up a studio known as the Royal Salon. Initially he was in partnership with a Mr Millward, who is not a very known Photographer. By the following year he was working alone and he continued to work out of the same studio for another 26 years. 1860s he also worked in London for a bit, but judging by the collection of his photographs which is now held by La Société Jersians’, he found plenty of willing sitters in the island prepared to pay lots of money have their portrait taken by him. Mullins became most famous for his cartes de visite and the photographic archive of La Société, that contains a large collection of 9600 images, the online archive holds photos mainly in sets of 16 photographs taken at a single sitting. As photographs were expensive at the time, Henry mainly photographed Jersey’s affluent and influential people, including their families of the more important officers. Long hair, whiskers and beards were shown to be in fashion in the mid-1800s from Mullins’ photos. Due to this and the styling of the portraits, it is difficult to tell the difference between some of the officers in the portraits
In conclusion, the value of photographic archives hold immense significance as they serve as essential repositories of our history, culture and collective memory. By preserving visual records of significant events and places they provide invaluable resources for researchers, historians and better knowledge for future generations. These archives offer a unique window into our past, enabling a deeper understanding of societal developments and cultural shifts. As visual narratives, they contribute to the preservation of knowledge fostering a sense of connection to our shared heritage. Having studied the photographic work of Henry Mullins it helped give me a better insight on The history of jersey by studying his work to evoke emotion and tell stories by highlighting his images to see the world from a different perspective reminding his viewers to appreciate the simple things. His achievements had a big impact on jersey and the photography world due to his unique style and influencing multiple other photographers. And showing how jersey once was.