In this course we’ll use digitised historical materials from the special collections at Bishopsgate Institute to recreate their everyday lives. Our atmospheric journey will take us to a range of local settings, including Sunday street markets, tailors’ workshops, youth club dances, and anti-fascist protests. The idea is to recover the sights, smells, and sounds of a lost world, the historic Jewish East End.

Who is this course for?

• Anyone curious to discover what daily life was like for Jewish Eastenders from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century
• Informal learners seeking to discover the experiences of Jewish men and women whose lives are documented in our archives
• Family historians interested in finding out more about their Jewish East End roots
• Anyone interested in the social history of immigration, fascism, and anti-fascism in east London during the period

What can I expect?

• The subject is examined through photographs, pamphlets, press cuttings, and more from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections.
• The tutor interprets the materials in a series of informative PowerPoint talks, organised thematically (e.g., ‘immigration’, ‘assimilation’, or ‘community’).
• The talks are richly illustrated with digitised historical sources, many of them rare and some unique to the Institute.
• There are opportunities for student participation through informal small group discussion, and via the chat function and questions.

Will I need any equipment or materials?

• We will be looking at written texts on screen during the session. Make sure you have reading glasses to hand if worn.

Joining via Zoom

This course or event will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.

You will need a computer or other device to connect with Zoom and a notebook/paper and pen/pencil, or digital equivalent.