Universal Children's Day

When is Universal Children's Day?

Universal Children’s Day, also known as World Children’s Day, takes place on November 20th. This was the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. On the same day in 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most universally accepted human rights treaty in history. This Universal Children’s Day, the United Nations marks the 31st anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Because of this special day we thought we would look through our collection for interesting child-related photos. Here is a selection from the 1840s through to 1942 showing the fashion of formal studio portraits and garden settings. Look at the clothes the children were wearing and think of the washing and starching of clothes that went on during those times. Since those labour-intensive days, baby clothes can be bought cheaply and washed very easily in our modern washing machines.

A professional family photo-shoot in this day and age, is likely to be taken on a nice day at a park or beach. It is unlikely we would sit in a studio for our portraits.

Baby Norman John and Pearl McKinnerly with parents

Albert and Belle Lemmey with their 3 boys

Albert, Alan and Phillip

Katherine Susannah Prichard with Baby Ric C1922