Domestic Help Collection

Interior with sewing woman, maid and playing boy, 1797. Creator: Hendrik Jan van Amerom
Interior with sewing woman, maid and playing boy, 1797

Maid pours milk into a saucepan, 1799. Creator: Jean Baptiste Mallett
Maid pours milk into a saucepan, 1799. Woman in white pours milk from a jug into a saucepan

Figures in a Courtyard behind a House, c.1663-c.1665. Creator: Pieter de Hooch
Figures in a Courtyard behind a House, c.1663-c.1665. Other Title(s): Three Women and a Man in the Courtyard behind a House

My cleaning lady, 1905. Creator: Georg Pauli
My cleaning lady, 1905

Pupils at Uppsala Housekeeping School, 1890-1899. Creator: Henri Osti
Pupils at Uppsala Housekeeping School, 1890-1899. The girls are dressed in dark dresses and light aprons, three of them have a white cap on their head. The girls hold various household utensils

Appy Ampstead on a Bank Holiday, 1900, (1933). Creator: Unknown
Appy Ampstead on a Bank Holiday, 1900, (1933)....maid servants...still wore the badge of their status - the apron - even on their day out

Rag Doll "Susie", c. 1937. Creator: Bertha Semple
Rag Doll " Susie", c. 1937

Marionette - "Biddy", c. 1939. Creator: Hilda Olson
Marionette - " Biddy", c. 1939

Doll: "Mollie Bentley", 1936. Creators: Josephine C. Romano, Edith Towner
Doll: " Mollie Bentley", 1936

A maid polishing a silver tray, March 1938

A maid standing by a dresser mirror polishing the silver, March 1938

A maid stoops to sweep up dirt from the floor, March 1938

Servants. March 1938 P009167

Implements Animated, Pl. 2, Dedicated to the Housemaids and Cooks of the United Kingdoms, ca. 1811

Housewifery students, Battersea Polytechnic, London, 1907. Making the beds and cleaning out the bedroom

The ironing room, Battersea Polytechnic, London, 1907. Female students ironing on long tables

The washing room, Battersea Polytechnic, London, 1907. Female students at work in the washing room, washing clothes by hand in basins, with washboards resting against the window

Student teacher in a cookery lesson, Battersea Polytechnic, London, 1907. Taking a cookery lesson for children, but under supervision

Domestics of the 15th Century, . Artist: John Leech
Domestics of the 15th Century, c1860, (c1860). From The Comic History of England, Volume I, by Gilbert A A Beckett [Bradbury, Agnew, & Co. London, ]

Nearly worried to death by the Greatest Plague of Life, c1840s. Artist: George Cruikshank
Nearly worried to death by the Greatest Plague of Life, c1840s. Cartoon sketch: Adventures of a lady in search of a good servant/by one who has been almost worried to death

Helping Mother, 1901. Artist: Andre & Sleigh
Helping Mother, 1901. Illustration from The Process Year Book, A Review of the Illustrated Arts. published by AW Penrose & Co, (London, 1901)

Servants hiring office, Berlin, Germany, 1874. Illustration showing modestly dressed women at the door of a hiring office, talking and showing their references to prospective employers

What Will Become of the Servant-Gals?, 1865. Artist: George du Maurier
What Will Become of the Servant-Gals?, 1865. The lady of the house shows a benevolent gentleman visitor where her housemaid sleeps. This appears to be an outhouse, damp and dirty

Maid Servants, 1901
Mitchell and Kenyon 235 Servants Maids

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"Exploring the World of Domestic Help: A Glimpse into History and Imagination" Step back in time to Appy Ampstead on a Bank Holiday, 1900, where unknown creators captured the essence of domestic help. From Rag Doll "Susie" in 1937 by Bertha Semple to Marionette "Biddy" in 1939 by Hilda Olson, these creations remind us of the companionship and comfort they brought. Josephine C. Romano and Edith Towner's doll "Mollie Bentley" from 1936 takes us on a journey through time, showcasing how implements animated our daily lives. Dedicated to the Housemaids and Cooks of the United Kingdoms, this collection pays tribute to their hard work. Traveling further back, we encounter housewifery students at Battersea Polytechnic in London during 1907. Witness their dedication as they learn essential skills in cookery lessons or manage tasks efficiently in the ironing room and washing room. These images depict an era when domestic help was crucial for maintaining households. Delving deeper into history, John Leech's artwork unveils domestics of the 15th century—a testament to their indispensable role throughout centuries. Meanwhile, Roman Lady and Slaves from c1910 highlight societal structures that relied heavily on domestic assistance. Lastly, George Cruikshank's piece from the c1840s portrays individuals nearly worried to death by life's challenges—an acknowledgment that even with help at hand, managing a household can be overwhelming. These glimpses into history and imagination shed light on the significance of domestic help—past and present—in shaping our homes' functionality and harmony. Let us appreciate those who have dedicated themselves tirelessly behind closed doors—the unsung heroes ensuring our households run smoothly throughout generations.