We need your help to transcribe letters from women who, unable to provide for their babies, sought care for them at the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first home for children.
Our Voices Through Time programme has digitised a quarter of Coram’s vast Foundling Hospital Archive, generating 100,000 digital records. Now, thousands of volunteers from across the world are helping us transcribe these records to make them freely accessible and searchable online.
Join us in uncovering real women’s stories. It is rare to hear the voices of ordinary women from the 18th and 19th centuries. The letters give valuable insights into their lives.
Coram’s Foundling Hospital Archive is held at London Metropolitan Archives and is one of their most popular holdings. These records’ fragile condition means it is difficult for people to access them.
Though digitisation and transcription, the Voices Through Time programme is safeguarding these records for the future and offering new and exciting opportunities for people to discover more about the history of the Foundling Hospital.
The Voices Through Time: The Story of Care programme is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Find out more about our transcription project
“…there are so many jigsaw pieces that can be linked to the stories of these children. And so many stories to be told.”– Julie, Australia
“Without a doubt, one of the things about this year that I am very grateful for has been the opportunity to participate in this project.”
– Joyce Elena, UK
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