8 January 1870
Observations and appeal
An early account of the hospital’s first three years, its rapid growth and its appeal for support.
Primary press sources
Newspaper Archive
Transcribed reports and extracts from historical newspapers and periodicals, arranged chronologically.
1874–1903
Donations to the Hospital
A selection of reported gifts and bequests made to the North-Eastern Hospital for Children.
1893
The Annual Report for 1893
A contemporary summary of the hospital’s work, patient numbers, finances and charitable support in 1893.
17 July 1894
Embezzlement by a Hospital Secretary
A newspaper report on the prosecution of a former hospital secretary for embezzling subscriptions.
17 October 1895
Hospital Terroriser Punished
A report on the prosecution of a boy whose false doorbell alarms repeatedly disturbed the hospital’s night porter.
10 March 1900
Grand Ballad Concert
A report on the sixth annual concert held at Shoreditch Town Hall in aid of the hospital.
28 May 1900
Annual Meeting of the Hackney Society
The Hackney Society reports on its fundraising and support for the children’s hospital.
1900–1901
An appeal for a Little Folks Ward
The appeal that asked young readers to raise £2,000 for a dedicated ward of six cots at the North-Eastern Hospital for Children.
25 May 1901
The Hospital World
An account of the 1901 annual meeting, hospital capacity and the urgent need for more accommodation.
1901–1904
Fundraising for the Little Folks Ward
Contemporary reports trace the instalments raised by Little Folks readers and the wider campaign to enlarge the hospital.
8 March 1902
A Grand Concert
A report on a record fundraising concert for the North Eastern Hospital for Children.
1902
The Children’s Salon Cot
Reports on the naming of the Children’s Salon Cot at the North-Eastern Hospital for Children.
15 May 1902
Laying the Memorial Stone of the New Building
A contemporary report on the memorial stone ceremony for the North-Eastern Hospital’s new building.
19 December 1902
Bazaar at the Hackney Baths
A report on a united bazaar raising maintenance funds for the hospital’s enlarged building.
28 February 1903
Life in the North-Eastern Hospital for Children
An illustrated period account of patients, nurses, wards and daily life inside the North-Eastern Hospital for Children.
25 June 1904
To the Editor of “The Mercury”
A letter describing the new hospital building, its costs and the forthcoming royal opening.
13 July 1904
The Grand Opening and state of funding, July 1904
Princess Louise opened the new hospital building and visited the Little Folks Ward, created through readers’ fundraising.
28 October 1904
Chairman’s appeal to the Jewish World
The hospital chairman appeals for funds to prevent the closure of wards in the enlarged hospital.
1904–1905
Up and running, fundraising continues
Reports of continuing appeals, sales and donations after the ward and new hospital building had opened.
20 May 1905
Lord Mayor’s Luncheon Invitations
A notice of a Lord Mayor’s luncheon in aid of the hospital and a Little Folks fundraising announcement.
31 May 1905
Annual Meeting, May 1905
Reports from the annual meeting describe patient numbers, finances, buildings and the Little Folks appeal.
29 June 1905
The Whitwar staff raise funds through a performance
Gladys Warren and members of The Whitwar team take part in a performance benefiting the hospital.
10 July 1905
The New Nurses’ Home
Lady Amherst laid the foundation stone of a purpose-built home intended to improve conditions for the hospital’s nursing staff.
16 September 1905
Open-air treatment: the Bethnal Green experiment
A newspaper report on the hospital’s experiment with open-air treatment for children on its balconies.
28 December 1905
Christmas at the Hospital
A contemporary account of Christmas celebrations for the children in the hospital wards.
15 May 1906
Festival Dinner in aid of the hospital
A detailed account of the 1906 festival dinner, its guests, speeches and appeal for hospital funds.
1 September 1906
Applications invited
A recruitment notice recording the hospital’s capacity, activity and medical and surgical staff.
3 November 1906
Starved to Death
A distressing inquest report illustrating the extreme poverty faced by one hospital family.
December 1906
A Christmas Treat
A report on Christmas trees, presents and entertainment arranged for 125 young patients.
May 1907
North-Eastern Hospital Annual Meeting
The annual report records four years of growth in patients, attendances and available beds.
4 April 1908
Queen’s Hospital for Children
The announcement that the North-Eastern Hospital for Children had been renamed the Queen’s Hospital for Children.
28 June 1908
Mayor of Shoreditch’s appeal
A brief report on the royal opening of a bazaar and an £8,000 appeal to clear hospital debt.
2 June 1909
The Jewish World Cot
The dedication of a cot funded largely by young readers of the Jewish World for the Little Folks Ward.
3 June 1909
A Plea to the Rich
An appeal describing the Queen’s Hospital for Children’s serious financial position in 1909.
18 December 1909
Where Help is Needed
An appeal to readers on behalf of the Queen’s Hospital for Children and its growing workload.
17 February 1910
Little Folks Ward Anniversary Appeal
The ninth-anniversary story of the ward campaign, £5,500 raised and plans for a convalescent home.
29 April 1911
Princess Louise to open the Children’s Home at Bexhill
A report anticipating Princess Louise’s opening of the hospital’s coastal convalescent home for children at Bexhill.
4 December 1915
Appeal for Funds
A wartime appeal describing the hospital’s development, workload and continuing need for funds.
8 December 1920
Christmas and the Children
Punch appeals for support for the Queen’s Hospital for Children during the Christmas season.
June 1924
Appeal for Funds, June 1924
An appeal setting out the hospital’s debt, patient numbers, costs and risk of curtailed services.