Jersey Archive calls on Local Businesses to Deposit Papers

James Qualtrough | October 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

Jersey Heritage would like to encourage local businesses to deposit their older records at the Jersey Archive. By depositing records in the environmentally controlled strongrooms of the Archive businesses can ensure that their vital information is preserved and that the story of their company is made accessible to future generations.

Local businesses are the lifeblood of our Island with some flourishing in the Island for over 200 years and it is essential for their records to be maintained.

Records of businesses can reveal the changing face of the economic landscape in the Island, what our ancestors did for a living and how this has changed over time. Working lives take up an enormous amount of our time so it is important that the records of these endeavours are kept.

Senior Archivist Stuart Nicolle said, “Islanders have a history of being extremely successful in the business world and being frugal with their money. From the merchants exporting cod around the world to offshore finance and the tourism boom of the twentieth century. By keeping these records we can see how different businesses developed and flourished over time and how business practices and fashions have changed.”

He went on to say, “It is important to keep business records from all facets of local life, whether that be shops, transport companies, garages or hotels, they all form a picture of life in the Island.”

“The Archive accepts records by donation or deposit. Donation passes ownership of the records to Jersey Heritage. However, deposit means that the ownership of the records remains with the Company but they are made available for the public to view at the Jersey Archive. This is often an ideal situation for companies who have early records that are not currently used but they want to keep them safe.”

Some of the best known and largest businesses in the Island have deposited their records with the Jersey Archive including A de Gruchy and Co Limited and Jersey Motor Transport Company as well as the largest employer representative in the Island, the Chamber of Commerce.

However the Jersey Archive is not only interested in the records of large firms. Records from a small local business can tell as important a story as the larger island-wide businesses. The Archive holds an account ledger from the first half of 20th century from Western Stores – the ledger gives a fascinating account of the purchases of our ancestors.