Around 150,000 Jewish immigrants settled in Britain from the late 19th century until the early 20th century, and the majority of these made their homes in London’s East End, setting up synagogues, shops and theatres. Our collections reflect the poverty and poor housing of the area but also celebrate the vibrant community that grew and flourished there.
Single Treadle Sewing Machine
Singer sewing machine dated from around 1912. It was owned by a family in the East End and used for both commercial and private purposes.
Furrier’s Hand Tools
Furrier hand tools belonging to Matthew Shaw who was a furrier in the 1920s and 1930s. They would have been used to shape fox heads for the fox head fur stoles.
Dora Shushter Collecting for the London Jewish Hospital
Photograph of Dora Shuster, by Isaac Perkoff, holding a collecting box marked “Jewish Hospital Fund” in Yiddish.
Danger, Fascists at Work
Pamphlet produced in the late 1940s by the 43 Group.
Friendly Society Collar
A collar from the Stuart M Samuel Lodge, Order of Achei Brith Friendly Society. In return for weekly contributions, members of the society received payments to help them in times of illness and death.
Zangwill Plate
Decorative plate presented to the prominent writer and political activist Israel Zangwill in 1915 by Morris Myer, editor of the Yiddish newspaper, Di Tsayt.
Russian Vapour Baths
Metal sign was used to advertise the Russian Vapour Baths in Brick Lane. These baths were more popularly known as ‘Schewzik’s’, after their owner Benjamin Schewzik
Magazine for the Stepney Jewish Lads Club
An issue of The Stepnian, the magazine for the Stepney Jewish Lads’ Club, founded in the East End of London in 1901 containing club news, activities, poems and letters.
Jews’ Hospital and Orphan Asylum Banner
Banner of the Norwood Orphanage, now the childcare organisation Norwood, commemorating the founding of the Jews’ Hospital in 1795 and the Jews’ Orphan Asylum in 1831.
Boris Bennetts Camera
Kodak “Big Bertha” camera, used by the well-known East End wedding photographer Boris Bennett
