Reminiscence collections are individual items and boxes containing historical material such as:
- books and audio material
- printed and recorded music
- posters, photographs and photocards
- pictures and objects.
Other reminiscence material is available online, such as the wartime stories described below.
How can I borrow them?
Anyone can borrow these items. Day centres and care homes will find them particularly useful for people who enjoy remembering the past.
Our reminiscence collection is kept at Eastbourne Library. You can browse some items in the health and wellbeing section on the first floor. Other items are kept in the store and are available on request.
You can reserve reminiscence materials online to collect at your local library. Download our list of Reminiscence resources and ideas for activities (Adobe PDF, 122KB).
Eastbourne oral history and reminiscence project
Eastbourne Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) interviewed local people about memories around the social history of food and drink, and topics around this subject.
You can borrow CDs and transcripts from these interviews.
You can also borrow the four themed boxes of memorabilia created as part of the project, covering:
- food and drink
- house and home
- Chinese memorabilia
- childhood.
People's War archive
Were you or someone you know in the armed forces, a nurse, evacuee or factory worker during World War Two?
We helped people to share and archive the personal, often overlooked stories of those who fought and lived through the war. You can read these stories on the BBC website and also download materials from these events.
Contact us
For more information about borrowing reminiscence collections, please contact our libraries:
East Sussex County Council