Clients of the Archives: British Home Children

May 29, 2026, 2pm - 3:00pm | Clients of the Archives: British Home Children Artist and researcher Raeann Kit‑Yee Cheung, MA (Falmouth University), and Patricia Skidmore, a descendant of British Home Children, examine this history through personal stories, art, and historical research. Other info: The British Home Children were boys and girls from the United Kingdom who were relocated to British dominions and colonies in other parts of the world. They were sent to places like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the belief that these children would have more opportunities there. More than 100,000 of these young immigrants came to Canada between the 1860s and the 1940s and they would have a lasting impact on their new land. British Home Children generally came from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some were orphans but many had families with financial troubles that left them unable to care for their own sons or daughters. Tragically, these parents often believed they had no choice but to put their children into the care of charitable organizations. These groups saw the sending of children overseas to British dominions as an opportunity for a fresh start in a promising new setting. Many of the families reluctantly felt that their children would have a chance at a better life there than they would in the British Isles. 2:00–3:00 PM | adults and seniors | registration not required | museum admission applies | free to members