Collection Box Collection

Blind man, between 1914 and 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Blind man, between 1914 and 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Blind man, between 1914 and 1918. Man holding box for donations and sign reading I am blind

Passage of the Douro, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Passage of the Douro, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Army contributes first to the tambourine... Salvation Army, San Francisco, California, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Salvation Army, San Francisco, California. Army contributes first to the tambourine (two dollars), outside contribution about seventy-five cents, all from drunks and the like

Meeting opens with taking the collection, Salvation Army, San Francisco, California, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Meeting opens with taking the collection. Army contributes (about one dollar and fifty cents) again, as well as the audience. Salvation Army, San Francisco, California

Daily Mirror Elephants Jimbo and Jumbo are greeted on the Portsmouth town hall steps by the mayor and alderman J H Gorke. 24th September 1913

The Mendicant Friar. Creator: Hans Holbein the Younger
The Mendicant Friar

The Monk, from the Dance of Death, 1651. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
The Monk, from the Dance of Death, 1651

Blind man begging, Great Depression, New York, USA, 1933

Battle of Waterloo, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Waterloo, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Toulouse, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Toulouse, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

The Battles of the British Army from 1808 to 1814 - Picture medal, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
The Battles of the British Army from 1808 to 1814 - Picture medal, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke

Storming of St. Sebastian, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Storming of St. Sebastian, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Pampeluna, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Pampeluna, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Vittoria, 1815 (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Vittoria, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Capture of Cuidad Rodrigo, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Capture of Cuidad Rodrigo, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Salamanca, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Salamanca, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Albuera, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Albuera, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Capture of Badajoz, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Capture of Badajoz, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Talavera, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Talavera, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Battle of Busaco, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Busaco, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

Englands Great Captain Arthur Duke of Wellington - Souvenir Medal, 1815 (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Englands Great Captain Arthur Duke of Wellington - Souvenir Medal, 1815 (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke

Battle of Vimiero, 1815, (1910). Artist: Edward Orme
Battle of Vimiero, 1815, (1910). The souvenir-medal is part of a collection box issued by Edward Orme to commemorate the military campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, 1815

An entertainment at Kings College Hospital, 1885. Artist: Charles Joseph Staniland
An entertainment at Kings College Hospital, 1885. Illustration from the The Graphic, (23 May 1885)

Collecting the Offering in a Scotch Kirk, 1855. Artist: Orrin Smith
Collecting the Offering in a Scotch Kirk, 1855. A ladle being used for the church collection. A print from The Illustrated London News, (14 July 1855)

Pieter Hoeveafter: Portrait mothers servants
Pieter Hoeveafter:, Portrait of mothers, servants and children of the Leprooshuis in Rotterdam, group portrait portrait painting sculpture wood oil panel

A blind street musician holds his violin in one hand and his collecting box in the other

Monk Dance Death 1651 Etching second state four
Artokoloro

Shamrock St Patricks Day in London

A little girl gives money to the collectors for St Barnabas Church in Eltham, Kent. 1938

Drinking at the Anchorians Philanthropia Club in Dartford, Kent. 1936

A Salvation Army member collecting donations
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

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"Collection Box: A Glimpse into History and Humanity" Step back in time to the year 1815, where Edward Orme's Passage of the Douro painting captures the essence of a significant moment. The artwork transports us to an era when battles like Waterloo and Toulouse were fought with valor and determination. In this historical journey, we encounter Hans Holbein the Younger's Mendicant Friar, reminding us of the humble existence of those who relied on charity for survival. Wenceslaus Hollar's portrayal of The Monk from the Dance of Death further emphasizes life's transient nature. Fast forward to San Francisco in 1939, as Dorothea Lange masterfully documents Salvation Army meetings opening with collections. Here, we witness how even during challenging times like the Great Depression, people came together to contribute what they could for those less fortunate. Lange's lens also captures a blind man begging on New York streets during that same period. This poignant image serves as a stark reminder that compassion is needed not only in times of war but also amidst economic hardships. Returning to Edward Orme's Battle paintings from 1910, we are reminded once again of soldiers' sacrifices during conflicts such as Waterloo and Pampeluna. These depictions honor their bravery while highlighting how armies have played a role beyond combat - contributing first to tambourines or taking collections for charitable causes. As our journey through history unfolds, it becomes evident that collection boxes symbolize more than just monetary contributions; they represent humanity’s capacity for empathy and support. Whether it be on battlefields or city streets ravaged by poverty, these boxes serve as conduits for hope and assistance. So let us reflect upon these captivating artworks - each brushstroke telling stories both grandiose and intimate - reminding us that no matter the circumstances or era we find ourselves in, there will always be opportunities to extend a helping hand through the simple act of dropping a coin into a collection box.