Next week (from 29th October) the Linen Hall Library in Belfast are hosting an exhibition that displays photographs of the Belfast poor and the work of the Belfast Central Mission from the early 20th century. These fascinating images taken by one of Belfast’s most prominent early photographers A.R. Hogg make real the poverty of earlier generations. Hogg photographed the streets and people of Belfast between 1880 and 1939 and his work for Belfast Central Mission shows a sympathetic and campaigning eye, by drawing the attention of the viewer towards some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens. In this way the images are in the tradition of Jacob Riis, whose photographs of nineteenth century New York poverty got him the reputation of being a ‘muckraking’ journalist! (See here and here for links about ‘muckrakers’!)
Photograph by A.R. Hogg from Belfast Central Mission Archive.
Many of the charities that operate today emerged in the nineteenth century, such as National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (N.S.P.C.C.) and the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association (now the S.S.A.F.A). A number of those 19th century charities emerged from the efforts of churches and Christian organizations including St Vincent de Paul and the Belfast Central Mission. The BCM was established in 1889 and emerged from within the Methodist Church in Belfast. Today its activities include a wide range of charitable endeavors including housing support for vulnerable young and old people, as well as providing assistance to families coping with autism diagnoses.
Its early incarnation tried to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in inner-city Belfast. This involved feeding the homeless, and bringing inner-city children to the seaside; a perfect antidote to the slums of the industrial city.
For more information on this FREE exhibition read the Belfast Telegraph article from yesterday’s paper. For more on the Linen Hall Library and Belfast Central Mission just click on the links.