Introduction
The official opening of the Public Library & Museum in the Town Hall, Stanley, was Friday 2 May 1919.
Prior to the Town Hall being built, a Lending Library had been established in the Vestry of the Christ Church Cathedral. At the request of Governor Allardyce, the old Infant School was set aside for the purpose of accommodating both services, with the Public Library opening on 31 May 1909 and the Museum opening on 9 November 1909. There was huge amount of support for developing these institutions, with many residents becoming subscribers, and by March 1909 the Library had 1,500 books. In this early period the Museum was known as ‘Allardyce Museum’ in honour of Governor and Mrs Allardyce, whilst the Library was ‘Josephine Brandon Library’, in honour of Mrs Brandon who helped start the lending library, creating a catalogue of books and who was passionate about the service in the community.
In the early evening of 16 April 1944 at 6pm, a fire broke out in the Town Hall, spreading quickly across the East and South-East of the building. The inquiry into the fire deemed it an accident, probably caused by the cloth at the South side of stage catching fire with an unextinguished match or cigarette dropped by a member of the military concert party. The fire destroyed the entire collection of the Public Library and Museum.
A temporary Library was set up in June 1944 at the Kelvin Store, situated at the South East corner of crossing between John Street and Dean Street.
Following the fire and destruction of the old Town Hall, a revised Public Library & Museum Ordinance 1944 was approved and replaced the Ordinance from 1918. The library was included in the plans for the new Town Hall and eventually opened. In addition to the books provided by the British Council, local individuals also donated and gifted the Public Library a variety of books to build their collection. The Stanley Town Council also acted on behalf of the Library to purchase books from Britain and book sellers across the world.
For the museum, there were more challenges to the continuation of their service. Despite being allocated a room West to the Public Library in the Hall, no action was taken to actively use the room as a museum. Instead it was used as a parcel sorting room for a number of years. Museum items were temporary placed in the Secretariat Conference Room and surrounding passages in 1964. Willoughby Harry (Tommy) Thompson, the Colonial Secretary who had a strong passion for the history and heritage of the Islands, was anxious to keep the museum’s collection together and was not supportive of its temporary location in the Secretariat. In 1969 before he completed his term and left the Islands, he organised for the collection and exhibits to be moved to the old Spinners and Weavers’ room in the north side of the Gymnasium (the old bank). At that point in time, those wishing to have access to the records in the Museum had to request key from the Police Station and there continued to be a risk of fire.
The museum was later moved and housed in the FIC Offices, before opening in the Britannia House building in 1987 until it was closed on 4 April 2014 to begin preparations for its final move to its current location at the Old Dockyard.
The Library was moved from the Town Hall to its new location within the Falklands Islands Community School when it opened in 1992. The Post Office within the Town Hall was then upgraded and extended to take up the old premises of the Library in the Hall. With the completion of the building of the Falkland College in 2020, the Public Library moved from FICS. In November 2021, a plaque was unveiled officially naming it the Christie Community Library in memory of the Mr William and Mrs Merle Christie, commemorating their lives and service to the Falklands.
CUL-LIB-1-1. Library and museum committee.pdf1001.68 KB
CUL-LIB-1-2. Reports further sales of The Story of the Falkland Islands.pdf1.13 MB
CUL-LIB-1-4. Rules Public Library and Museum.pdf1.88 MB
CUL-LIB-1-5. Library and Museum to be opened to public on 2 May 1919.pdf695.22 KB
CUL-LIB-1-6. Transfer of pictures of Antarctic Explorer to Museum or Library.pdf753.83 KB
CUL-LIB-1-8. Formation of a lending library at Fox Bay West Falkland.pdf1.04 MB
CUL-LIB-1-9. Presentation of books to Public Library by Select Vestry Christ Church Cathedral.pdf1.09 MB
CUL-LIB-1-10. Presentation of copy of Victory over Blindness to Library.pdf656.94 KB
CUL-LIB-1-11. Asks permission to kill 2 silver Grebe for Falkland Museum.pdf799.34 KB
CUL-LIB-1-12. Dressing and mounting of 63 bird skins for the Public Museum Port Stanley.pdf5.15 MB
CUL-LIB-1-13. Submits manuscript of Library catalogue for printing.pdf22.23 MB
CUL-LIB-1-14. Appointment of Library and Museum attendant successor to Miss A E Felton.pdf2.2 MB
CUL-LIB-1-16. Museum care of specimens placed in charge of Government Naturalist.pdf542.72 KB
CUL-LIB-1-17. Grant to Library and Museum 1922.pdf1.44 MB
CUL-LIB-1-18. Library and Museum Committee Section 3 Ord No 4 of 1918.pdf6.06 MB
CUL-LIB-1-19. Museum whaling gun and shells presented to.pdf2.37 MB
CUL-LIB-1-20. Grant to Library and Museum 1924.pdf487.8 KB
CUL-LIB-1-21. Notifies forwarding of parcel of bird skins for mounting.pdf6.41 MB
CUL-LIB-1-22. Appointment of Library and Museum Committee 1925.pdf36.73 MB
CUL-LIB-1-23. Annual grant to funds of Public Library and Museum for the year 1925 1926.pdf1.59 MB
CUL-LIB-1-24. Miscellaneous matters in connection with public Library and Museum.pdf971.18 KB
CUL-LIB-1-25. Suggested scheme for schoolchildren to pay periodical visits to Museum.pdf1.36 MB
CUL-LIB-2-2. The Library and Museum ordinance 1944.pdf1.54 MB
CUL-LIB-2-3. Town Hall Fire Public Library.pdf24.57 MB
CUL-LIB-2-4. Appointment of Library and Museum Committee.pdf29.27 MB
CUL-LIB-2-5. Stanley Town Council Library.pdf5.16 MB
CUL-LIB-2-6. Stanley Town Council Library - 19 Oct 1960-17 Feb 1972 - Part I.pdf26.46 MB
CUL-LIB-2-6. Stanley Town Council Library - 19 Oct 1960-17 Feb 1972- Part II.pdf39.99 MB
CUL-LIB-2-7. Camp library scheme.pdf5.02 MB
CUL-LIB-2-8. Town Council Museum showcases.pdf896.54 KB
Disclaimer
While every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy the Jane Cameron National Archives does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in these records.
Copyright guide
Copies of government records may be used freely for private research and educational purposes. If material is to be used for commercial publication, exhibition or broadcast the written permission of the Jane Cameron National Archives must first be obtained. Whenever material from the Jane Cameron National Archives is reproduced in any form or in any medium, the user must acknowledge the Jane Cameron National Archives as the source and give all document references. For non-government records it is your responsibility as the user to ensure that copyright is not infringed and any infringement that does occur is your responsibility.
The Jane Cameron National Archives is located along Jeremy Moore Avenue, adjacent to the old Museum site (Britannia House).
See the building circled (in yellow) on the Google Map below. 
The National Archives can be reached walking on foot, or any private mode of transport (vehicle or bicycle). There are no buses or public transport in the Falkland Islands.
There is a small car park at the National Archives site which allows for two vehicles to use at any one time.
If you are walking to the Archives it takes approx. 10 minutes from centre of Stanley, walking West along Ross Road, turning up Holdfast Road and then right along Jeremy Moore Avenue. The building is white with a red roof.
Our address is: Jane Cameron National Archives, PO Box 579, Jeremy Moore Avenue, Stanley, Falkland Islands. FIQQ 1ZZ
To find our opening hours please see: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.fk/about-archives/opening-hours
You can also follow us Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JCNArchives
To support the service and archival records accessible at the Jane Cameron National Archives, we have collated a list of external resources and useful links that relate to, or support, Falkland Islands history and culture.
| Dictionary of the Falkland Islands Biography | The Dictionary of Falklands Biography describes people concerned with the history of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. |
Web: https://falklandsbiographies.org/home
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| Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust |
The F.I.M.N.T. strives to preserve and protect places, buildings and items of historic importance or interest. They work to educate and inform residents and visitors and actively encourage Islanders to enjoy their national heritage. |
Web: https://falklands-museum.com/ Email: Tel: (+500) 27428 |
| Falkland Islands Journal |
The Journal is an independent academic publication linked to the Museum and National Trust in the Falklands. It has been published annually since 1967 and covers all aspects of the history, natural history, culture, heritage geography and natural environment of the Falkland Islands and associated regions. |
Web: https://www.falklandislandsjournal.org/ Email: |
|
Falkland Maritime Heritage Trust |
F.M.H.T. is a charity registered in the UK which is dedicated to preserving the rich and varied seafaring history of the Falklands and those who have been associated with them. |
Web: https://fmht.co.uk/ |
|
Friends of the Falkland Islands Museum and the Jane Cameron National Archives |
FIMA Friends support the Museum and the National Archives in Stanley in any way. They seek historical artefacts that would have a natural home in the Falklands, and, where possible, acquire them using their own funds. |
Web: https://fimafriends.co.uk/ |
|
Jane & Alastair Cameron Memorial Trust |
The Trust, established in memory of Jane Cameron (1950-2009) and Alastair Cameron (1951-1989), aims to support projects within the islands concerned with local history and with the preservation of sites, buildings and artefacts of historic interest; including the work of the Archives. |
Email: |
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The National Archives (UK)
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The TNA are the official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales. They also contain records relating to the Falkland Islands and other British territories. |
Web: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ |
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~ Archive material relating to the Islands is also availbale at the following institutions ~ |
||
| British Antarctic Survey Archives |
The BAS Archives Service holds records created by BAS and its predecessors, Operation Tabarin and the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), that relate to all activities, both scientific and administrative. |
Email: |
|
Imperial War Museum
|
IWM’s collection covers all aspects of conflict involving Britain, its former Empire and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. |
Web: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections |
|
The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth |
The NMRN holds the most comprehensive collection of Royal Navy heritage in the UK and the largest collection of historic ships in Europe. |
Web: https://www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/portsmouth-historic-dockyard |
| The Natural History Museum Library & Archive |
The Library and Archives has been developing its unparalleled collection of natural history literature, artwork and information resources since the Museum opened in 1881. |
Web: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/services/library.html |
| Royal Commonwealth Society |
RCS Library collections are a treasure-trove of resources, pictorial and written, for those researching the Commonwealth and Britain's former colonial territories. |
Web: https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/rcs/1 |
| The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Archive |
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Archive in Taunton, Somerset, holds over 400 years of maritime history. It is one of the most comprehensive maritime collections of its type worldwide. |
Web:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-ukho-archive |
LOCAL PERIODICALS
FALKLAND ISLANDS MAGAZINE
Series P/FIM
Monthly - 1889 to 1933
Periodical covering notable events, local news, births, deaths, marriages, bazaars and shipping.
THE PENGUIN
Series P/PNG
Six days a week - between 28 June and 20 August 1927 to 30 June 1938
Printed Monday to Saturday, inclusive. Began same time as local radio broadcasts. Covers local events but most reporting is of international events.
FALKLAND ISLANDS NEWS WEEKLY AND CHURCH BULLETIN
Series P/FIN
Weekly - June 1938 to December 1943
Covers church news, local social events, arrivals and departures from the colony and war news.
FALKLAND ISLANDS WEEKLY NEWS
Series P/FIW
Weekly - January 1944 to September 1949
Replaced the above and covered the same sort of information.
FALKLAND ISLANDS MONTHLY REVIEW
Series P/FMR
Monthly - December 1958 to April 1973
Recorded local events and items of general interest and advertisements.
ST MARY'S HERALD
Series P/STM
Monthly - May 1969 to February 1971
Church magazine also covering local news and information.
FALKLAND ISLANDS TIMES & FALKLAND ISLANDS MONTHLY REVIEW
Series P/FIT
Monthly - September 1973 to March 1982
Covered local news and events. From the May 1978 issue it was known just as The Falkland Islands Times.
WEEKLY NEWS
Series P/WEE
Irregular - 21 February 1974 to 29 May 1974
Covered local and overseas news.
FALKLAND ISLANDS MONTHLY REVIEW (MINI REVIEW)
Series P/FMR
Monthly - August 1975 to December 1976
Local news and information.
PENGUIN NEWS
Series P/PEN
Irregular then weekly - 3 October 1979 to current day
Covers local news and international news relevant to the Islands.
FALKLAND ISLANDS TIMES
Series P/FIT
Monthly - February 1986 to November 1986
Local news and information.
THE SOUTHERN STAR - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/TSS
Weekly, irregular then bimonthly - Circa1984 to unknown.
Produced by British Forces based in the Falklands and subtitled ‘The most southerly service newspaper in the world’ and later ‘The most southerly newspaper in the world’. Contains articles, cartoons, jokes and puzzles to do with military life in the Islands. The editors changed continuously with each new posting.
TEABERRY EXPRESS - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/TEA
Weekly - July 1989 to August 1999
Covers local news and international news relevant to the Islands.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NEWS - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/TFI
Irregular - May 1996 to July 1999
Reproduced articles of overseas and local business news.
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Series P/MIG
Monthly - June 1989 to May/June 1990
Issued from the Secretariat and intended to keep the public informed of events, developments and new legislation and to receive back comments and observations on the Government programme.
THE WOOL PRESS
Series P/WOO - UNDER AGRICULTURE
First series quarterly - 1985 to 1986
Second series monthly - 1989 to 2010; 2011 onwards on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
The first Wool Press was published by the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) in conjunction with the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) and only four issues were printed. relaunched in September 1989 by the Department of Agriculture. A farming orientated periodical coverING a wide range of topics of interest to those in farming as well as the wider community.
THE FIG TREE - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/MIG
Irregular - October 2001 to December 2007 (two year break from end of 2005; no volume 5)
Falkland Islands Government internal newsletter issued from Gilbert House for government employees and featuring articles about government departments and employees. Replaced in 2008 by The Voice.
THE VOICE - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/MIG
Irregular - May-June 2008 to unknown
Replaced The FIG Tree and produced by the Policy Unit as an internal newsletter for FIG staff. Published in Public Folders, the internal FIG web. Only 3 hardcopies held.
FALKLAND ISLANDS RELATED PUBLICATIONS
COLONIAL ANNUAL REPORTS
Series P/COL
Annual - circa 1842 to 1949. Suspended in 1939 and reintroduced in 1947. From 1950 issued bi-annually. Ceased with 1974/1975 issue.
Prepared from the Blue Books and published by HM Stationery Office, London. Were replaced by the Governor’s Annual Reports from 1976.
THE UPLAND GOOSE - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/UPL
Quarterly - 1971 to current day
Covers Falkland Islands stamps and associated subjects. Produced by the Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group.
FALKLAND ISLANDS NEWSLETTER - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/FIA
Irregular - 1976 to current day
Produced by the Falkland Islands Association in London with news on the Falkland Islands, local and abroad.
THE WARRAH
Series P/WAR
Irregular - 1981 to 2000
Members magazine produced by the Falkland Islands Trust, UK. They merged with the Falkland Islands Foundation early in 1991 and a formal launch of Falklands Conservation was held in London on 1 August 1991. The first newsletter under their new name was released November 1991. Replaced in 2001 by ‘Wildlife Conservation in the Falkland Islands’. Both publications deal with conservation issues in the Falkland Islands.
FIC BULLETIN - NOT ON JCNA WEBSITE
Series P/FBU
Monthly - August 1986 to February 1993
Written by Joan Spruce covers products and services offered by the Falkland Islands Company Ltd as well as little snippets of information on the Company and staff.
FALKLAND ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BULLETIN
Series P/COC - UNDER TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Irregular - 1992 to 1998. From 1999 an email publication to members.
Monthly bulletin sent out to members of the Chamber of Commerce containing contact details of local businesses and brief descriptions of their products and/or services. Started as the Association of Businesses in the Falkland Islands, became the FI Chamber of Commerce in May 1993.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
Series P/WAR
Annual - October 2001 to July 2015. From January 2016 they are available on the Falklands Conservation website.
Produced by Falklands Conservation, UK. It was published irregularly and replaced in 2001 by an annual journal called ‘Wildlife Conservation in the Falkland Islands’. Local Falklands Conservation also produce a newsletter. Covers conservation issues in the Falkland Islands.
FALKLANDS FOCUS
Series P/FFO
Irregular - November 1983 to current day.
Produced by the Falkland Islands Government Office (FIGO) in London with news on the Falkland Islands, local and abroad.
Copyright guide
Copies of government records may be used freely for private research and educational purposes. If material is to be used for commercial publication, exhibition or broadcast the written permission of the Jane Cameron National Archives must first be obtained. Whenever material from the Jane Cameron National Archives is reproduced in any form or in any medium, the user must acknowledge the Jane Cameron National Archives as the source and give all document references.
Disclaimer
While every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy the Jane Cameron National Archives does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in these records.