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G4EBT > HISTRY 27.11.04 23:04l 233 Lines 7360 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 7F3533G4EBT
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Subj: History of UK Waifs and Strays
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<GB7FCR
Sent: 041127/1917Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:23825 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:7F3533G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : HISTRY@WW
I'm not sure if anyone on here shares my interest in social history,
particularly insofar as it concerns disadvantaged children, but if
anyone does, they might like to know of an excellent new website.
"Hidden Lives Revealed" is a new and unique resource for anyone interested
in British social history during the Victorian period. It's a very useful
resource for teachers or pupils or anyone studying for a qualification in
social history. It can be found at:
http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/about/index.html
"Hidden Lives Revealed" focuses on the period 1881-1918, and includes
unique archive material about poor and disadvantaged children cared for
by The Waifs and Strays' Society. The Society cared for children across
England and Wales in both the densest urban conurbations and some of
the smallest rural villages.
The Waifs and Strays' Society looked after about 22,500 children between
its foundation in 1881 and the end of World War One. The Waifs and Strays'
Society became the Church of England Children's Society in 1946 and is now
known as The Children's Society.
The site features a range of archive material - most not previously
accessible by the public, as well as articles and learning resources
that help interpret these stories for a modern audience. No other
Internet archive provides the opportunity to browse through such unique
material, and information not recorded elsewhere.
The site features the full contents of around 150 case files of children
in the care of the Waifs and Strays' Society from Victorian and Edwardian
times. Even though some of these cases are from over 100 years ago,
they've been fully anonymised to prevent the children's identification.
Each case is summarised, and linked to pages about the actual homes they
lived in.
Photographs from The Children's Society archives illustrate some of the
grinding poverty of the time, and also show how children's lives were
turned round when they entered the Society's care.
The photographs of little waifs arriving dressed in rags is heart-rending,
(one, aged four or five, clutching just a penny and a walnut), but to see
the photos of them leaving after years of care to go out to make their way
in the world as they approach adulthood is very uplifting. Even to anyone
only mildly interested in social history, the photo-gallery alone is worth
a browse.
Often there would be more than one child taken into care, but as the
homes were single-sex until the 1920s when they became mixed, brothers
and sisters were sent to separate homes. Though encouraged to write to
each other, this can only have added to their heartache and despair.
The website not only gives an insight into the lives of individual people,
but also about the Victorian and Edwardian social order. You can find out
about:
*The poorest and most disadvantaged sections of society
*Peoples' lives at work
*Family relationships and community networks
*Laws relating to child welfare
*How the Society cared for disabled children and integrated them back into
the outside world
*How social support charities worked with local communities
Case files are well-indexed and can be browsed under the following
headings:
Abandonment
Where a child or whole family was abandoned by a parent or guardian.
Abuse
Where a child was cruelly treated, hit or sexually abused. It also
includes domestic violence between the parents.
Adoption
Attempts to adopt children.
After care
Help given after the child officially left the Society's care.
Alcohol abuse
This denotes that a parent or guardian abused alcohol.
Behaviour
Where the child's behaviour caused concern before or after entering the
Society's care.
Child labour
Cases in which children aged under 14 worked to help maintain themselves
or their families.
Clothing
Info on clothing worn by the child.
Complaints
Where a complaint was made about the child's treatment while in the
Society's care.
Crime.
Cases in which a parent or child was prosecuted for committing a crime.
Custody
Disputes or unusual circumstances regarding custody of the child.
Disability
Where the child or a parent, or guardian, has a physical or mental
disability.
Employment
Where there's an interesting or unusual aspect to a parent or child's
employment. (It also includes work related injuries).
Ethnic minorities
Where the child is from an ethnic minority background.
Foster care
Indicates that the child lived in formal or informal foster care.
Grandparents
Where the child was looked after by grandparents.
Health
If the child or parent suffered serious illness. (Related terms are
'Disability' and 'Mental Health').
Homelessness
When the child or family were made homeless.
Illegitimacy
Cases of illegitimacy, which illustrate attitudes prevailing at the time.
Industrial schools
Where the child was the subject of an order under the Industrial Schools
legislation.
Infanticide
Cases of the killing of an infant by, or with the consent of, a parent.
Law
Cases where there's an aspect of child-related law.
Maintenance
Interesting or unusual aspects of payment of maintenance for the child.
Mental health
When a parent or child had a mental health problem.
Murder
Cases involving murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter.
Neglect
Where a child was not properly fed, clothed or looked after.
News clippings
Where a file contains newspaper clippings concerning the case.
Photographs
When a photograph of the child is available.
Poverty
Cases in which people live in particularly poor circumstances.
Prison
When a parent or child is sent to prison.
Prostitution
When a parent or child is involved, or at risk of being involved, in
prostitution.
Running away
Where a child ran away from a Home or from its parents, guardians or
employer
School
Aspects of schooling and education.
Siblings
Case files relating to two or more children from the same family taken
into care, and for files illustrating relationships between siblings.
Social life
Cases indexed with this term contain references to holidays, outings and
other social activities
Stepparents
Cases where stepparents were involved in the child's family life.
Suicide
When a parent or guardian, or child, committed, or attempted, suicide.
Travellers
Where the child is from a Traveller or Romany ('Gypsy') background.
Welfare organisations
Denotes agencies other than the Waifs and Strays' Society, (such as the
NSPCC), which were involved in the care of the child or young person
Workhouses
Cases where a child or parent spent time in a Workhouse.
World War 1
Cases indexed with this term illustrate the effects of World War 1 on
children and their families
Hope someone finds it of interest.
Quote of the Day:
Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) American author and playwrite.
(Winner of 1938 Pulitzer Prize for "Our Town").
"Childhood"
~~~~~~~~~~~
"I am convinced that except in a few extraordinary cases, one form
or another of an unhappy childhood is essential to the formation of
exceptional gifts".
73 - David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Eddystone User Group Member
G-QRP Club Member No: 1339
QTH: Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 19:02 on 2004-Nov-27
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
(Registered).
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