Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection
Memorial Cards, Victorian, Original
The printed memorial cards shown here were sent by Victorian parents to inform relatives and friends of a child’s death. The black card with the white embossed illustration shows a mother grieving at the tombstone of her son. The other figure could be an older sister of the dead boy or it could be the boy himself.
Many children and babies died in Victorian times, especially those who were underfed and generally not very strong. They were not given injections against deadly diseases as they are now. So rich and poor children alike died from such diseases as diphtheria, measles and whooping cough.
Many babies died before reaching their first birthday. More than a quarter of all babies died in their first year of life. Diarrhoea was one of the worst killers, caused by dirty milk or water. After 1875, clean water was piped directly to wealthier homes and sewage was carried away through the sewer network. The streets also became cleaner when rubbish collections began that year. People began to realise the link between clean water and good health. It was now known that diseases such as cholera and typhoid were spread rapidly because of dirty water and open drains.
Many children and babies died in Victorian times, especially those who were underfed and generally not very strong. They were not given injections against deadly diseases as they are now. So rich and poor children alike died from such diseases as diphtheria, measles and whooping cough.
Many babies died before reaching their first birthday. More than a quarter of all babies died in their first year of life. Diarrhoea was one of the worst killers, caused by dirty milk or water. After 1875, clean water was piped directly to wealthier homes and sewage was carried away through the sewer network. The streets also became cleaner when rubbish collections began that year. People began to realise the link between clean water and good health. It was now known that diseases such as cholera and typhoid were spread rapidly because of dirty water and open drains.
The printed memorial cards shown here were sent by Victorian parents to inform relatives and friends of a child’s death. The black card with the white embossed illustration shows a mother grieving at the tombstone of her son. The other figure could be an older sister of the dead boy or it could be the boy himself.
Many children and babies died in Victorian times, especially those who were underfed and generally not very strong. They were not given injections against deadly diseases as they are now. So rich and poor children alike died from such diseases as diphtheria, measles and whooping cough.
Many babies died before reaching their first birthday. More than a quarter of all babies died in their first year of life. Diarrhoea was one of the worst killers, caused by dirty milk or water. After 1875, clean water was piped directly to wealthier homes and sewage was carried away through the sewer network. The streets also became cleaner when rubbish collections began that year. People began to realise the link between clean water and good health. It was now known that diseases such as cholera and typhoid were spread rapidly because of dirty water and open drains.
Many children and babies died in Victorian times, especially those who were underfed and generally not very strong. They were not given injections against deadly diseases as they are now. So rich and poor children alike died from such diseases as diphtheria, measles and whooping cough.
Many babies died before reaching their first birthday. More than a quarter of all babies died in their first year of life. Diarrhoea was one of the worst killers, caused by dirty milk or water. After 1875, clean water was piped directly to wealthier homes and sewage was carried away through the sewer network. The streets also became cleaner when rubbish collections began that year. People began to realise the link between clean water and good health. It was now known that diseases such as cholera and typhoid were spread rapidly because of dirty water and open drains.
