Item YPS/5 - Private Journal of Henry Alfred Offer, Manager of the Castle Street Working Boys' Home

Private Journal of Henry Alfred Offer, Manager of the Castle Street Working Boys' Home, 15 Hanover Street, Long Acre WC.

The ledger begins with the record of its gift to Offer and contains a signed photograph of Hogg. The inscription suggests that the volume was given in 1870 but Offer transcribes his earlier entries, continuing until December 1872, with a partial index at the end. A note in the author's hand requests that the volume be returned to Hogg in the event of the author's death.

After notes on the plan of the volume, lists of emigrants and apprentices, there is a note on the Offer family, indicating the Author's birth in 1845. The text from Jan 1867 sets out Offer's vocation, describing the opening of the 'Home' by Hogg on 15 June 1867, listing the boys admitted and photographs of many of the boys are inserted. There are candid comments on the boys and their families. Offer records the setting up of a Shoe Black Society and changes in domestic staff and the fates of various boys. March 1872 includes a long discourse on baptism.

Names have been underlined in red ink, and many of the photographs are identified. There are a few faint pencil corrections and annotations in an unknown hand.