Phone book from 1905 among Sure donation to library
PHONE books from the early 1900s and the 1970s have been donated to the Priaulx Library by Sure.
Library website editor Dinah Bott said there were complete collections of phone books in the island. The library was also keen to have one, because so many family historians use its archives for research.
The books are in good condition, even though some are more than a century old.
‘I think these were the phone company’s own collection,’ Mrs Bott said.
The oldest book – from 1905 – has lost its cover so has now been wrapped carefully in archival paper.
The library holds a wide collection of almanac and trade directories, which are already very useful for family history, but Mrs Bott said the phone book could provide different kinds of data.
Phone usage took off quickly in Guernsey, with the first local telephone exchange opening in St. Peter Port in June 1898.
There are about 1,200 numbers listed in the 1905 book. It reveals some information about how people used their phones.
For example Arthur Gibbons, of Cobo Villas, not only listed a number for his home, but also for his office at Les Genats, the Les Deslisles Vinery and Les Maingys Farm.
Businesses formed an important part of the early phone book. There were only two-and-a-half pages for private residences. In comparison vineries alone had two pages.
‘It shows how people really took up phones,’ Mrs Bott said.
She said while census data was often used for family history information, those were only conducted every 10 years, while phone books were released every year.
The early phone books also include detailed instructions for how new users would use the technology and even a description of what the different tones were. The dial tone was described as purring, while ringing was said to be a burr-burr noise.
Mrs Bott said if anyone does come across any old books, they are encouraged to contact the library to see if it need it for its collection.
