The story
On 28 January 1873 a meeting of notables of the island took place to discuss the formation of a learned society for the preservation of the island's archaeological, historical and linguistic heritage, perceived to be threatened by the expansion of St Helier and coastal development. Those present were aware of the foundation of similar societies in mainland Normandy, such as Société des Antiquaires de Normandie (founded 1824) and similar county societies in the United Kingdom.
In 1879, the Société was incorporated by Act of the States of Jersey, the first such entity to be incorporated in that way.
In 1893 the Société was given a large townhouse in Pier Road, Saint Helier which became the base for its operations including its library and museum.
In 1913 the various branches of activity were formalised into 'sections', amongst the first being Archaeology and History. The Section structure still exists and now consists of some 15 sections.
From its inception the Société engaged in archaeological work at numerous sites around the island; most importantly beginning work at La Cotte de St Brelade in 1905, a Neanderthal site of international importance.
In 1919 the Société purchased the important Neolithic site of La Hougue Bie, excavating it in 1924 revealing a Neolithic chambered passage grave c.4000BC. The site was then restored and opened as a museum. Other archaeological sites were also acquired by gift or purchase in order to protect and preserve them.
The Société flourished throughout the 20th century, notwithstanding the difficult years of the German military occupation of the Channel Islands between 1940 and 1945. Despite the severe hardships and lack of resources suffered by the island, the museum at Pier Road remained open throughout the Occupation, but despite protestations La Hougue Bie museum was requisitioned for military purposes by the Nazi occupiers.
Post-war the Société continued to grow and add to its collections to the extent that during the 1970s a new headquarters was built adjoining the Pier Road Museum. In 1973, it celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary.
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In 1987 the Société entered into an agreement with the States of Jersey for its museums to be run by the Jersey Heritage Trust, whilst retaining ownership of its collections. This enabled the Société to concentrate on its core activities of research and publication.
In 1990 the Société also entered into a working partnership with the National Trust for Jersey which its members had helped to found in 1937, to develop a country life museum at Hamptonne, St Lawrence, a late medieval farm with manorial pretensions, the National Trust purchasing the property, the Société financing the restoration.
On 14 May 2019, the Société was registered as a charity under the Charities (Jersey) Law 2014, with registered number 114.
In 2023, the Société celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary with a series of special events, a conference and publications.
From Wikipedia’s article on Société Jersiaise, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4