Inventory of the Channel Islands collection
Finding aid prepared by Rita Morin
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2011
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Channel Islands collection
Date (inclusive): 1940-1998
Collection Number: 2000C26
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
6 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box
(2.8 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The collection is comprised of diaries, letters, proclamations, permits, orders, ration cards, identification documents, photographs,
postcards, printed matter, video tapes, and compact disks relating to life on the Channel Islands under the German occupation
during World War II.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2000.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Channel Islands Collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Historical Note
The Channel Islands are comprised of five main islands: Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, and three smaller islands:
Jethou, Brecqhou and Lihou. The islands lie off the French coast of Normandy but are dependencies of the British crown.
After the fall of France to Germany, in June 1940, the Channel Islands became indefensible for the British. On June 20, 1940,
the decision was made to remove all troops from the Channel Islands and cut the underwater cable providing communications
between Britain and the Channel Islands. Island residents had to make the decision to stay or evacuate to England. British
ships were sent to take those residents ready to evacuate but there were not enough ships to accommodate all evacuees.
On June 28, 1940, the Germans bombed St. Helier, the capital of Jersey, and the Guernsey capital of St. Peter Port. On June
30, 1940, German troops landed on the islands and began the occupation. The occupation lasted five years, from June 30, 1940,
through May 9, 1945. The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Commonwealth to be occupied by Germany during World
War II.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Channel Islands Collection relates to life on the Channel Islands under the German occupation during World War II. It
is comprised of diaries, letters, proclamations, permits, orders, ration cards, identification documents, postcards, photographs,
printed matter, video tapes, and compact discs. The bulk of the material depicts daily life on the islands during the German
occupation, but also includes materials related to the liberation and post-occupation life of the islanders. The collection
is arranged into series and contains materials in English, French and German.
The
Diaries and Correspondence series illustrates life during the occupation through letters and diaries that document the daily life of island residents
living through the occupation and the experiences of a resident deported from the islands to Laufen as a German prisoner of
war.
The
Occupation and Post-Occupation Materials series encompasses a wide variety of items that were used in the daily lives of island residents and in the running
of the government during the five years of occupation. It also illustrates island life from the occupying force's point of
view and post-occupation. In addition, the series includes items relevant to the liberation and post-occupation.
The
Printed Matter series contains various printed materials depicting life on the island during the occupation such as personal memoirs, island
histories and poetry, as well as items that highlight the tourist industry built on the islands as a result of the occupation.
The
Audiovisual Materials series contains items that cover both the occupation of the islands and general history of the island. There are firsthand
audio accounts from fifteen residents who lived through the occupation. Video footage includes captured wartime newsreels
and interviews with survivors of the occupation as well as unique video footage documenting life on the island of Guernsey
from 1915 to 1945.
The
Newspaper series contains a number of original newspapers spanning daily life under occupation and liberation. The newspapers also
report on the progress of the war from a pro-German perspective. The bulk of the papers were printed on Jersey and Guernsey.
All materials in this collection were collected by C. C. Kohler, an antiquarian bookseller from Dorking, England.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into 5 series: Diaries and Correspondence, Occupation Materials, Printed Matter, Audiovisual Materials,
Newspapers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Video tapes
Military government
World War, 1939-1945 -- Great Britain
Channel Islands -- History -- German occupation, 1940-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Channel Islands
Diaries and Correspondence
1941-1945
Scope and Contents note
Contains diaries and correspondence of civilians and internees living on the Channel Islands during the occupation.
Arrangement note
Arranged in two groups: Civilian Materials and Internee Materials; thereunder chronologically.
Civilian Materials
1941-1945
box 1, folder 1
George H. Budge pocket diaries
1941-1945
box 1, folder 2-3
Dolly diaries
1 Jan. 1942- 20 Mar. 1944
box 1, folder 4-7
Elise Morris correspondence
1942-1945
Internee Materials
1942-1944
box 2, folder 1-2
Henry J. Le Goupillot, interned in Laufen
1942- 1944
Scope and Contents note
Contains diaries, letters, photographs and music book
box 2, folder 3
Internment correspondence
1943-1944
Occupation and Post-Occupation Materials
1940-1992 (bulk 1940-1945)
Scope and Contents note
Contains a wide variety of items that documents island life during and after the German Occupation.
Arrangement note
Arranged in four groups: Civilian Materials, Government Materials, German Forces Materials, and Post-Occupation Materials;
thereunder chronologically by document type
Civilian Materials
1940-1945, 1992
box 2, folder 4
Aerial propaganda
1940-1944
box 2, folder 5
Currency, Channel Island, circa
1940
box 2, folder 6
Evacuee communications
1941-1944
box 2, folder 7
Photo postcards and photographs
1940-1943
box 2, folder 8
Red Cross messages
1941-1943
box 2, folder 9
The Red Cross Civilian Postal Message Scheme with the Channel Islands during The Occupation 1940-1945 by David Gurney
1992
box 2, folder 10
Theater programs
1942-1943
box 2, folder 11
Miscellaneous documents
1942-1944
Government Materials
1940-1945
box 2, folder 12
Memoranda, correspondence and documents
1941-1944
box 3, folder 1
Identity cards, circa
1941
box 3, folder 2
Official notices
1941-1944
box 3, folder 3
Permits and passes
1940-1944
box 3, folder 4
Postage stamps and tax stamps
1940-1945
box 3, folder 7
Ration forms and correspondence
1941-1944
German Forces Materials
1940-1945
box 3, folder 8
Aerial propaganda
1943-1945
Scope and Contents note
In English, French and German
box 3, folder 9
Currency, German, circa
1940
box 3, folder 10
German personnel materials
1940-1942
Scope and Contents note
In German and contains photographs
Post-Occupation Materials
1945-1948, 1965, undated
box 3, folder 11
Correspondence and postcards
1945
box 3, folder 12
The Criff newsletter
1945
box 3, folder 13
Daily Worker pamphlet
1945
box 3, folder 15
Government reports
1945, 1965, undated
box 3, folder 16
Liberation Day souvenir programs
1946-1948, 1995
box 3, folder 17
Ration books and identity cards
1945-1946
Printed Matter
1945-1996
Scope and Contents note
Contains memoirs, poetry, a screenplay, island guides and histories, museum guides and souvenirs, and miscellany. See also
newspapers
Arrangement note
Arranged alphabetically by document type and thereunder chronologically
box 4, folder 2
German occupation
1955-1995
box 4, folder 3
Guernsey
Evening Press index
1940-1945
box 4, folder 4
Guernsey
Star index
1940-1945
box 4, folder 6
Island histories
1944-1958
box 4, folder 7
Jersey occupation tapestry
1995-1996
Scope and Contents note
Contains interactive CD-ROM
box 4, folder 8
Julia Pascal play,
Theresa
1990
box 4, folder 9
Merchant shipping
undated
box 4, folder 10-11
Memoirs
1947, 1993-1995, 1997, undated
box 5, folder 1
Memoirs
1990
1995
1997
undated
box 5, folder 2
Museum guides and pamphlets, Guernsey
undated
Scope and Contents note
In English, French and German
box 5, folder 3
Museum guides and pamphlets, Jersey and Alderney
undated
box 5, folder 4
Museum souvenirs, Guernsey
undated
box 5, folder 5
Museum souvenirs, Jersey
undated
box 5, folder 7
Postal service pamphlets
undated
box 5, folder 9
Société Jersiaise
1945-1946
Scope and Contents note
In French and English
box 5, folder 10
Miscellaneous island books
1994-1998
Audiovisual Materials
1990, undated
Scope and Contents note
Contains an audio cassette documenting occupation experience and two VHS videocassettes, in PAL format, documenting life on
the islands
box 6, folder 1
Hitlers British Islands, Channel islands occupation experience, audio cassette
1990
box 6
A living history: Channel islands occupied, VHS cassette
undated
box 6
Moving memories, 1915-1945, VHS cassette
undated
Newspapers
1940-1995
General Physical Description note: 7
Scope and Contents note
Contains newspapers printed during the occupation, post-occupation, and special-issue Liberation Day editions.
Arrangement note
Arranged chronologically by type
box 7, folder 1
Occupation newspapers
23 Oct.1940 - 21 Mar.1945
Scope and Contents note
In English and German
box 7, folder 2
Post-occupation newspapers
11 May 1945 - 25 Aug. 1945
Scope and Contents note
In English, French, and German
box 7, folder 3
Liberation Day commemorative editions
1946-1995
