2025 was a positive year of growth and development for the small, dedicated team at the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive (SJPA), building on strong progress in recent years.
STAFF
In August 2025, we bid farewell to our colleague Orlando Echeverri Benedetti at the conclusion of a successful 15-month project as cataloguer for the SJPA’s Access to Records project. We thank Orlando for his significant contribution and wish him every success in his future endeavours.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer support increased substantially in 2025 following a successful recruitment campaign launched in the mid-year. In total, 15 volunteers contributed over 450 hours. We extend our sincere thanks to all volunteers for their efforts.
COLLOBORATIONS
Le Rocquier School – In June 2025, we welcomed a visiting group of students and delivered a presentation exploring both technology and photographic equipment used and held within the SJPA.
Hautlieu School – We collaborated with the A-Level Photography Department on two projects, delivering a presentation to a group of visiting students in September, and hosting a photography student for an eight-week internship, beginning in November.
Meet the Collections – In November, we worked with Jersey Heritage on a photography-focused instalment of their Meet the Collections event. Held at the Sir Francis Cook Gallery in Trinity, the event showcased a wide range of photographic material and equipment to members of the public.
Left: Le Rocquier School visit, June 2025. Photo: Max Le Feuvre
Right: Meet the Collections, November 2025. Photo: Max Le Feuvre
OUTREACH
Instagram – We continued to grow our department Instagram page (@societejersiaise_photoarchive), using it to highlight and showcase selected images from new and recent accessions, on a weekly basis.
Local media – In December 2025, we worked with All Island Media to provide images published in a Bailiwick Express article on Christmas Day. In 2026 we plan to further build this relationship.
Written material – Throughout the year, we published numerous blog posts and essays offering both departmental updates, as well as analysis and reflections on both new and historic collections.
EXHIBITIONS
We curated two exhibitions in the Société Jersiaise Members’ Room. The first, held in May, marked the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day and featured photographs of Jersey at the time of Liberation. Titled Joy and Jubilation, it captured the atmosphere and emotion of that historic moment. The display was in collaboration with the Jersey Evening Post, who kindly provided a selection of their collection for our exhibition.
The second exhibition held in November, titled Jersey Railway, focused on the former Jersey Railway Line. All of the images were printed from original large-format glass plate negatives, whose exceptional resolution produces remarkably detailed prints. These prints are now on display in the Arthur Mourant Room.
Both exhibitions were well received and provided an opportunity to highlight some stunning photographs from the SJPA collection.
Left: ‘Joy and Jubilation’ Exhibition Display, May 2025
Right: ‘Jersey Railway’ Exhibition Display, November 2025
ENQUIRIES & ENGAGEMENT
In 2025, the SJPA team handled 301 enquiries received in person, by telephone, and via email.
Additionally, an impressive 26,824 users accessed our online collections.
ACCESSIONS
A total of 36 collections were processed during the year, with 24 acquired into the permanent collection, totalling 1,317 items.
Two accessions were added, comprising original photographic material by SJPA Archive Assistant Max Le Feuvre, alongside accompanying audio recordings produced by SJPA Archivist Rochelle Merhet.
The first featured an interview with former Société President and membre d’honneur Roger Long. Led by John Pinel, the interview explored Roger’s arrival in Jersey, his early life on the island, and his meeting with his lifelong partner, the late Margaret Long.
The second was a compelling interview with Dave Isherwood, conducted by historian Sue Gorin, in which he recalled his experiences as a boy during the Occupation of Jersey.
Left: SJPA/2025/09/02, Roger Long, March 2025. Photo: Max Le Feuvre
Right: SJPA/2025/11/19, David Isherman, August 2025. Photo: Max Le Feuvre
Left: SJPA/2025/18/FC/006/B/01/029, Three pigs at La Ferme, St Martins, c. 1975. Perchard/Billot Collection
Right: SJPA/2025/02/B/09, Fisherman sitting by pier at Elizabeth Castle, c.1920-30. Hiller Collection
CATALOUGING
Significant progress was made in cataloguing the Arthur Mourant and Joan Stevens collections. Supported by volunteers, 3,494 photographs were catalogued. With a significantly increased number of fully trained volunteers compared to the same time last year, we expect to comfortably exceed this figure in 2026.
DIGITISING
Digitisation of photographic items increased substantially in 2025, with 14,909 items digitised in total, far surpassing our target of 10,000. Over 12,000 if these were high-priority items from the Arthur Mourant, Maurice Richardson, and Johnny Johnson collections.
Left: SJPA/AC/004/07/19/10, Apple pressing to make Cider, November 1986. Maurice Richardson Collection
Right: SJPA/AC/002/B/039, Jersey Sunset, c. 1936. Arthur Mourant Collection
ANNUAL REPORT
Further details of the SJPA’s work and activities will be published in the forthcoming 2025 Bulletin as part of the Annual Report.
If you’d like to explore more from the photographic archive, follow the links below.
Text – Max Le Feuvre, SJPA Archive Assistant
