The Social History Collection aims to document the social
and economical history of the City of Worcester. It is the youngest
collection held by Worcester City Museums as social history
items have only been actively collected since the late 1960s.
Items in the collection are mainly donated by local people,
and each object is collected not just for its own sake but because
of its connection to Worcester and Worcester people.
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Objects added to the social history collection need to reflect
the lives and work of Worcester people in the past and also at the
present, and tell the stories of local events, the development of
local industries, trades and crafts, leisure activities, living
conditions, social structures, customs and beliefs or local personalities.
The main categories in the Collection are:
Agriculture and Horticulture
- Childhood - Commerce - Costume
and Textiles
Domestic History - Ephemera
- Military and Wartime - Music
- Numismatics
Oral and Video Histories - Science
and Industry - Transport
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Agriculture and Horticulture - Items reflecting Worcester's
importance as a market town for a large agricultural community,
and its location close to the market gardening areas of the
Vale of Evesham. Amongst the best objects are the Guinness collection
and items relating to hop production. |
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Childhood - Objects which represent the various stages
of children's lives and education in Worcester. Amongst the
best: Items from Worcester schools, including a rocking horse
from St Clement's School, toys and games, dolls and dolls'
house furniture.
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Commerce - Items relating to Worcester shops and shopping.
Amongst the best: Shop fittings, measures, tins, packets and
containers. |
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Costume and Textiles - Items of clothing and accessories
as worn or made by Worcester people. Amongst the best - Children's
white wear and farmers' smocks, historical shoes.
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Domestic History - Objects from Worcester homes or belonging
to Worcester people which reflect the everyday life of cooking,
cleaning and furnishing a home. Amongst the best: Vacuum cleaners,
irons and early electrical appliances including a 1920s washing
machine in working order. |
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Ephemera - Paper items relating to Worcester history Amongst the
best - local election posters from the 19th century, theatre posters,
advertising, local postcards, leaflets, posters, greeting cards. |
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Military and Wartime - Items relating to people from Worcester
during wartime and who fought in military campaigns (other than in
the Worcestershire Regiment and the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry).
Amongst the best- Items reflecting Worcester during the Second World
War and life on the Homefront. |
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Music - small collection of musical items. Amongst the best; Violin
made by Worcester Violin Maker Henry Handley, pianola, phonograph,
polyphon, gramophones and records. |
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Numismatics - Coins, tokens and medals, some relating
to Worcester, but most showing the development of coinage
in Britain. Amongst the best - local tokens including the
Cotton collection, Anglo-Saxon and Norman Worcester mint coins,
De Saulle medal collection, historical electrotypes.
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Oral and Video Histories - Taped interviews of Worcester people
on subjects relating to recent exhibitions, along with the Millennium
Memories project - taped interviews of local people, recording their
lives and memories of Worcester. Photography - Large collection of
photographs of local people and local scenes, either taken by local
people or local professional photographers (see Old
Pictures and Photographs of Worcester). |
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Science and Industry - Objects representing the many industries
from Worcester's past as well as scientific equipment used in
Worcester. Amongst the best: Pharmacy and items relating to
Worcester Chemist shops, in particular
Stewards Chemist Shop. The fixtures, fittings and contents
of this Victorian Chemist shop are on display in The City Art
Gallery and Museum. |
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represented in the collection are Industry, especially Gloving, Shoe
making, Tinware making and local heavy engineering firms. Brewing
and Worcester sauce manufacturers are also represented by collection
of local bottles for sauce, beer and mineral water. See Spirit
of Enterprise exhibition. |
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Transport - Items relating to Worcester Transport such as the
canal and trams. Amongst the best: Milk cart, carriage, penny farthing.
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Archaeology
- Art - Ethnology
- Geology - Natural
History -
Social History
Worcestershire Regiment - Worcestershire
Yeomanry
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