In Iftemoriam. 



John Lin wood Pitts, 



Born 9th November, 1836; Died 22nd February, 1917. 



Probably few if any of the many strangers who through the 

 years have elected for one reason or another to make their 

 home in Guernsey have so familiarized themselves with the 

 social life of the people and the past history of the island as 

 did John Linwood Pitts, a native of Pocklington, in the 

 East Riding of Yorkshire. 



It was health reasons that decided Mr. Pitts to live 

 among us. He had come to the island once or twice on short 

 visits for rest and change of air, and finding the climate to 

 agree with him, he, in the summer of 1869, took up residence 

 here — a residence that, while benefiting his health, was also to 

 prove of inestimable worth to the intellectual life of Guernsey. 



Studious by nature and of cultured tastes, Mr. Pitts 

 lost no time in interesting himself not only in what was going 

 on around him, but also in what had gone on as recorded in 

 old newspapers, documents and books. He delved so deep 

 and laboriously into Guernsey's past that before long he 

 became an acknowledged authority on almost all local matters. 

 Folklore and the island patois were made a special study, and 

 the advancement of science in all its branches claimed his 

 attention also. He loved science and was ever ready to 

 champion its cause because of the mind enlightenment that 

 results from an intelligent study of nature. 



That Mr. Pitts should early make the acquaintance of 

 the late Mr. Thomas Guille and become associated with him 

 and his friend, the late Mr. Frederick Mansell Alles, in their 

 great library scheme gives no cause for surprise. Rather can 

 I picture on the one side the pleasure it afforded Mr. Pitts 

 to assist in the organization of the Institution, and on the 

 other side the very good fortune of the Founders in having 



