Annotated almanacs
Glimpses of daily life between 1700-1900
One of the most essential items of popular publication in Early Modern Europe was the almanac – a small, yearly work of popular literature. They would often contain information relevant for the local population, such as the times for public transport and parcel delivery days.
Entertaining works of prose and poetry were often requested to be included in the binding as well. Although the almanacs were designed for mass use, their ownership naturally depended on the literacy of potential buyers.Many almanacs have been lost over time, especially those which took more fragile forms, such as ‘sheet almanacs’. Quite a number of almanacs have fortunately remained, however, and the University Library has hundreds, if not over a thousand volumes available for research. When it comes to copies annotated by contemporary readers, several items that are worth investigation will be highlighted in this article.
The library’s collection
The oldest almanac in the library’s collection was published as early as 1507 (Almanach nova plurimis annis venturis inservientia, P qu 28). The library not only boasts a large range of titles, but many series of annual issues are also extensive and near complete. For instance, the collection has a high number of almanacs aimed at the students of Utrecht University, such as the Utrechtsche studenten almanak which extends from the early 19th century into the 21st century. These almanacs contained lists of students’ and teachers’ names, the various societies and clubs, and annual reviews as well as amusing prose, poetry, and proverbs catered towards the popular interests of the students. Another similarly extensive series is the Friesche Volks-Almanak ranging from as early as the 1830s until 1899, published under slightly altered titles. Also boasting a large collection is the series of nautical almanacs titled The nautical almanac and astronomical ephemeris for the meridian of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich (1767-1959), which provided all the necessary tables and figures to aid the seafarer in their navigation of the seas.
The contents of an almanac
These almanacs offered readers a large amount of information contained within generally very small – and to our modern sensibility, quite charming – octavos (eighth of a sheet of paper) or duodecimos (twelfth of a sheet of paper). There is even an almanac barely larger than the size of one’s thumb in the library’s collection; the Petit Almanach that probably dates from 1807 (Rariora duod 665).
Much like we may carry the world at our fingertips with the smartphones in our hands, these almanacs could easily be carried in a similar fashion or fit in one’s pocket. While our generation went from bus and train timetables to apps that calculate our journey instantly, these almanacs could inform the user of the departure times of local passenger boats and other such means of transportation. Similarly, they would often list details of the local markets – their location, dates, and approximate times. These almanacs would therefore often be distributed by and specifically applicable to certain cities or provinces.
Readership
The information they contained was also tailored by the publisher to the intended owners, and some additions to the almanac would also be specifically requested by the customer. One can consider, for instance, the aforementioned nautical almanacs and student almanacs. Other vocational almanacs, tailored to those of certain professions or who occupied some position in society, include Norton's literary register and book buyers almanac which, as the title suggests, was tailored to the needs of someone in the book trade, and the Veterinaire Almanak with contents relating to veterinary medicine. The library’s collection also contains, for example, biblical almanacs, which were marketed to the pious – either protestants or catholics. The Almanak voor vrouwen door vrouwen (‘Almanac for and by women’; 1798, Moltzer 6 E 29) kept in mind the sorts of tasks and interests women may be occupied with in accordance with the contemporary gender roles.
Astrology
Aside from the domestic matters, the primary use of the almanac was for its astrological predictions and guidance. Popular astrology formed the core of many almanacs, as they would function as a guide for one’s decisions and taking care of their health, ranging from the very important to the mundane. Such popular astrology proved the prevalence and availability of astronomical research and study in the general population, even outside of an academic context. Criticisms and scepticism of these calculations and subsequent predictions naturally occurred in many instances, yet they did not necessarily deter their inclusion and long-running tradition. Over time, the content of almanacs was adapted to the needs of changing societies, and these astrological predictions were eventually rarely prioritised over the course of the nineteenth century. Increasingly fewer of the pages were dedicated to the astrological content, and in some cases, it was no longer included at all.
Usage
How almanacs were ultimately used is not always possible to determine by their intended readership. What does help to place them in a practical context, however, are the annotated almanacs that have survived. There were some almanacs that would include blank pages in their binding to make space for the owner’s notes, while other almanac owners might make small notes in the margins. Either way, these notes provide unique insight into their everyday lives, in ways that are unexpectedly personal for our typical engagement with historical material.
Annotations
One example of such an almanac is the Nieuwe Zutphense Almanach, for which a 1766 copy (Hs 17 C 40 dl 2) contains some notes by a music instructor/musician/seller of instruments at the time, potentially Johann Caspar Diedrich (or Theodorus) Groneman from Zutphen. Specifically, he has made a note of the lessons he has given to his students.
The 1746 volume of the Stichtze almanach (EAZ 1009) contains names and calculations of payments. Because it includes a mention of ‘kraankind’ (a Dutch word referring to men who would operate a crane), the owner of the almanac was most likely involved in construction.
The 1736 volume of Oprechten nieuwen almanach (EAZ 851) contains a lot of items that the owner has either bought or sold. Many of them appear to be jewellery, such as a golden ring and a watch chain. There are also more everyday items listed in their calculations, including milk, flour, and water. The owner may have used the almanac for their personal and business budgeting, potentially working as a jeweller.
Chronicling death – the mysterious Frisian almanac
A Frisian almanac from 1853 (Provinciale almanak van Friesland voor 1853 (TT 491, 1853)) interestingly contains some notes in the calendar section about those who have passed away that month, including their name, age, and date of death.
The same handwriting appears in another item from the same series, from 1824, suggesting they were owned by the same person. The 1824 volume contains just one note, detailing the suicide of someone who cut his own throat with a razor. The person in question is Igle Jacobs Kingma from Stiens, Leeuwarden. Quite a bit of information remains about him in archive records, including several entries recording his numerous debts, such as a notarial deed from 1817 (kept in Tresoar, Leeuwarden). His property, including various farm animals, was sold off upon his death, as was recorded in the Leeuwarder courant. The reason for his death appears easily deducible.
As the owner of these almanacs did not list their own name, we cannot conclude for certain why they recorded these deaths, and whether they had any personal relation to the deceased in question. Perhaps they kept these records for the church, or potentially for the deceased’s families. Whether it was for professional or personal reasons, or the almanac annotator just had a rather morbid fascination, remains somewhat of a mystery.
Combining business with the personal
Looking at these examples, as well as considering the context and history of these almanacs, it is clear that the almanac served many purposes and was used according to each owner’s own needs. They thus formed an important part of organising household and business matters. We could compare it to the use of an agenda or cash book in modern times, although the initial purpose of an almanac was for its astrological information and predictions, and information on annual fairs, mail services, and transport. Their format and application changed with the years, as the publishers adapted them to the changing times and needs of their readers. Although we rarely encounter printed almanacs in the modern age, as everything is conveniently available on our phones, the tradition persists. For instance, the Enkhuizer almanak was used in many Dutch households right through the late twentieth century and continues to be published, and in Ireland, the ‘Old Moore’s Almanac’ has been published for two and a half centuries. For researchers, almanacs contain an interesting, if relatively neglected history that can give a surprising insight into the lives of the people that came before us.