Podcast
Take This Token
Hosted by Foundling Museum · EN
How can such tiny objects hold so much meaning?
Hear personal stories, historical insights and creative responses – all inspired by the Foundling tokens.
The Founding Hospital was one of Britain's first children's homes established in London in 1739. In its early days, anyone giving a baby into its care would also leave a token. These precious, emotionally-charged objects are on display today at the Foundling Museum in London. We talk to people with a connection to the Museum who take one token and share what they know, what they feel and what they imagine.
8episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Tokens of Travel
Jun 13, 202300:20:40Tap to summarizeToday – in the final episode of this series – historians Helen Berry and John Styles trace connections between babies left at the Foundling Hospital and global forces of war, trade and empire. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Helen Berry, Professor of History in the Department of Archaeology and History at the University of Exeter. View the token Helen chose here. John Styles, Professor Emeritus in History at the University of Hertfordshire and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians, including Helen Berry and John Styles, who you heard on this episode. –– You can see Helen and John's tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of Style
Jun 6, 202300:15:37Tap to summarizeWe find out what the tokens can tell us about Georgian style and what eighteenth-century women kept in their pockets, with historians Serena Dyer and Ariane Fennetaux. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Serena Dyer, historian of dress, consumption, and material culture in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. View the token Serena chose here. Ariane Fennetaux, historian of material culture with focus on textiles and dress. View the token Ariane chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians, including Serena Dyer, who you heard on this episode. –– You can see Serena and Ariane's tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of Mystery and Hope
May 30, 202300:15:49Tap to summarizeThe tokens invite us to imagine untold life stories. Today historian Janette Bright shares insights into a tiny ruby ring and a mysterious newspaper advert, and we hear from jewellery maker and designer Alex Monroe about a divided medal and a hoped-for reunion. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Janette Bright, historian and co-curator of Fate, Hope and Charity. View the token Janette chose here. Alex Monroe, jewellery maker and designer. View the token Alex chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians, including Janette Bright, who you heard on this episode. –– You can see Janette and Alex's tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of Care
May 23, 202300:12:06Tap to summarizeToday our interviewees Sam Lee and Yomi Ṣode imagine different acts of care in lives connected with the tokens. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Sam Lee, folk singer and Foundling Fellow. View the token Sam chose here. Yomi Ṣode, writer, playwright and poet, whose debut collection Manorism was published in 2022. View the token Yomi chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians. –– You can see Sam and Yomi's tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of History
May 16, 202300:14:42Tap to summarizeToday we time travel with two historians, David Coke and Gillian Clark. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Music: George Frideric Handel, Organ Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 2, HWV 290 - Allegro, featured on 'Handel at Vauxhall' released by Signum Classics. Interviewees: David Coke, curator and historian, and author of Vauxhall Gardens: A History (Yale University Press, 2011), together with Dr. Alan Borg. View the token David chose here. Gillian Clark, an independent researcher who has worked closely with the Foundling Museum for many years. View the token Gillian chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians, including Gillian Clark who you heard in this week’s episode. –– You can see David and Gillian’s tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of Identity
May 9, 202300:14:52Tap to summarizeToday, we hear from two great champions of the Foundling Museum – director Caro Howell and writer and artist Lemn Sissay MBE – as we explore tokens and identity. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Caro Howell has been Director of the Foundling Museum since 2011. In May 2023 she is taking up the role of Director-General at the Imperial War Museum. View the token Caro chose here. Lemn Sissay MBE, award winning writer, artist and broadcaster, and Foundling Museum trustee. View the token Lemn chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians. –– You can see Caro and Lemn’s tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pmSunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter. Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of Protection
May 2, 202300:15:03Tap to summarizeToday we’re looking at one of the most powerful impulses for anyone leaving their child in someone else's care: protection. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Indika, a trainee on the Foundling Museum’s Tracing Our Tales programme for care-experienced young people aged 18-29. View the token Indika chose here. Owen Davies, a British historian who specialises in the history of magic, witchcraft, ghosts and popular medicine. Lydia Carmichael, a former residential pupil at the Foundling Hospital. View the token Owen and Lydia chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians – including Owen Davies who you heard in this week’s episode. –– You can see Indika, Owen and Lydia’s tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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Tokens of Love
Apr 19, 202300:17:20Tap to summarizeHow can such tiny objects hold so much meaning? Hear personal stories, historical insights and creative responses – all inspired by the Foundling tokens. The Founding Hospital was one of Britain's first children's homes established in London in 1739. In its early days, anyone giving a baby into its care would also leave a token. This might be a ring, a metal, a poem, a playing card, or even a hazelnut. These precious, deeply personal objects are on display today at the Foundling Museum in London. We've been talking to people with a connection to the Museum. In this podcast, they take one token and share what they know, what they feel and what they imagine. Today, we begin at the heart of the matter – with tokens of love. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Sally Holloway, a historian of gender, emotions, and visual and material culture in Britain and the world over the long eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. View the token Sally chose here. Bez, a trainee on the Foundling Museum’s Tracing Our Tales programme for care-experienced young people aged 18-29. View the token Bez chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, Tokens of History. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians – including Sally Holloway who you heard in this week’s episode. –– You can see Bez and Sally's tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pmSunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Sign up to our newsletter. Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.
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