Sociological Collection

COMTE, Auguste (1798-1857). French positivist philosopher and sociologist. Litography

Tenement housing, New York City, 1912 C016 / 2550
Tenement housing, New York City, USA. This tenement block is 260 to 268 Elizabeth Street, a street in Manhattan, New York City, USA

MARCUSE, Herbert (1898-1979). German-Jewish philosopher, political theorist and sociologist, and a member of the Frankfurt School. Oil

Sheepherder filling water bag, 1939
Sheepherder filling water bag, Rosebud County, Montana, USA. Photographed in June 1939 by photographer Arthur Rothstein (1915-1985)

Bootblacks, New York City, 1890s C016 / 8996
Bootblacks, New York City, 1890s. 19th-century gelatin silver print of bootblacks (boot polishers) on the streets of New York City, USA

Immigrants, New York City, 1890s C016 / 8995
Immigrants, New York City, 1890s. 19th-century gelatin silver print of a group of men, including immigrants, on the streets of New York City, USA

Bankruptcy punishment, 16th century C016 / 8992
Bankruptcy punishment. Historical artwork showing bankrupt men being punished in a pillory in 16th-century France. Notices tell the crowd that the men have been convicted of fraudulence

Cangue punishment in China, 19th century C016 / 8988
Cangue punishment in China, 19th century

Luggage cart at train station, 1910s C018 / 0635
Luggage cart at train station. Porter wheeling luggage at the newly opened Pennsylvania Station, New York City, USA. This train station was completed in 1910

Lifeguard and beach visitors, 1880-1906 C014 / 2057
Lifeguard and beach visitors. Thought to have been taken in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, this photograph, from the Detroit Publishing Company, dates from some point in the period from 1880 to 1906

Child riding on a tram, Boston, 1909 C014 / 2047
Child riding on a tram in the streets of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1909. This illegal practice, where children rode on the rear of trams, was known as flipping cars

VE Day crowd, London, 1945 C014 / 2066
VE Day crowd. Large crowds gathered in London, UK, on 8 May 1945 to celebrate the end of hostilities in Europe during the Second World War

Punishment by pillory, historical image C017 / 7883
Punishment by pillory, Delaware, USA, historical image. The pillory is occupied by an African-American man. This punishment, similar to the stocks

Deaf-mute education, 1917 C016 / 4516
Deaf-mute education. Teacher teaching a deaf-mute girl to talk. The girl has her hand placed on the teachers throat to feel the sounds made while talking

Glass-blowing machine, 1908 C016 / 4503
Glass-blowing machines. Early 20th-century machines designed to take molten glass and blow four milk bottles into moulds (centre)

Washing machine, 1940s C016 / 2552
Washing machine rinsing. Woman following wartime instructions to drain and rinse her washing machine. Home maintenance was necessary because US domestic washing machine production was suspended after

Tenement museum kitchen display C016 / 2551
Tenement museum kitchen display. The stove, irons, and gas light (far left) are typical of a late 19th-century to early 20th-century kitchen before the advent of electrical lighting and appliances

Castaway at sea, Tichbourne case. Roger Tichbourne, the heir to a large fortune and baronetcy, had been missing presumed dead after the shipwreck of the ship Bella off Brazil in April 1854

Doughty family, Tichbourne case. Katherine Doughty (1834-1906) being comforted by Lady Doughty (died 1872). Katherine was cousin to Roger Tichbourne, the heir to a large fortune and baronetcy

Steamer Oneida in the Altlantic, 1868 C013 / 7747
Steamer Oneida in the Atlantic. 19th-century artwork of the voyage undertaken in 1868 by the claimant to the fortune and baronetcy of Roger Tichbourne

Arthur Orton, Tichborne case claimant
Arthur Orton (1834-1898), Tichborne case claimant. Roger Tichbourne, the heir to a large fortune and baronetcy, was missing presumed dead after a shipwreck in 1854

Spy books, conceptual artwork
Spy books. Conceptual artwork of eyes peering out of books. This can represent subjects such as espionage, state surveillance, and invasion of privacy

Mother and baby, conceptual artwork
Mother and baby in a pram, conceptual artwork

Parents and babies, conceptual artwork. The babies (white, upper left) are seen in a tree. This may represent concepts such as childbirth myths, adoption, genetic selection and screening

Auguste Comte, French philosopher
Auguste Comte (1798-1857), French philosopher. Comte, who is considered the father of modern sociology, coined the term sociology as part of his description of the new science

Family gender and love symbols. These male and female symbols are grouped together to represent a family, here a man and woman (large symbols) with a son and daughter (small symbols)

Family male and female symbols. These male and female symbols are grouped together to represent a family, here a man and woman (large symbols) with a son and daughter (small symbols)

Isolation through disability, artwork
Isolation through disability, conceptual artwork, Computer image of a wheelchair in a darkened room, representing depression and the social isolation felt by many wheelchair users

Graffiti on wall. Photographed in Glasgow, UK

Charles Booth / Scribner s
CHARLES BOOTH English shipowner and sociological writer

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"Sociological Insights: Exploring the Human Condition through Time and Space" In the realm inquiry, great minds have delved into the depths of human society to unravel its intricate tapestry. One such luminary was Auguste Comte, a French positivist philosopher who laid the foundation for this field of study. His profound ideas continue to shape our understanding of social dynamics. As we journey through time, we encounter snapshots that offer glimpses into different facets of society. A musical soiree in 19th-century New York City, depicted in John Childs' practical amalgamation, reveals how music brought people together across social classes. Moving forward, Herbert Marcuse's philosophical musings resonate with us. This German-Jewish thinker challenged conventional norms and encouraged critical thinking as a means to challenge oppressive systems. The urban landscape provides fertile ground for sociological exploration. Tenement housing in early 20th-century New York City exposes the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities striving for survival amidst overcrowding and poverty. Meanwhile, images from various eras capture diverse aspects of daily life – a sheepherder filling his water bag in 1939 symbolizes resilience and resourcefulness; bootblacks on bustling New York streets during the 1890s highlight economic disparities; immigrants arriving at Ellis Island evoke stories of hope and struggle. History also sheds light on punitive measures employed by societies throughout centuries – bankruptcy punishment in the 16th century demonstrates how financial failures were met with public humiliation; cangue punishment in China during the 19th century exemplifies societal control mechanisms aimed at maintaining order. Transportation hubs serve as microcosms where individuals from all walks of life converge. A luggage cart at a train station during the early 1900s showcases mobility as an essential aspect shaping social interactions. Recreation spaces reflect societal values too – lifeguards overseeing beach visitors between 1880-1906 demonstrate the importance placed on safety and leisure.