Raggedness and Respectability in Barnardo's Archive

Abstract

The concept of 'raggedness' was a key one in nineteenth-century British charitable discourse, as it de fined not only a physical state but an educational and moral one. This article will establish the actual extent of ragged clothing worn by boys in the entry photographs taken by Dr Barnardo's Homes. An analysis of the entry images shows that even when clothing was visibly ragged it was often presented in a way that tried to mitigate this effect, and the raggedness of clothing had a complex rather than a simple relationship to the earning capacity of the wearer. This suggests that the families whose boys entered Barnardo's were highly aware of the moral implications of 'raggedness', and were concerned to demonstrate an understanding of the forms of 'respectability'. The forms of 'respectability' they sought were modelled on those used by middle-class families, including the dressing of siblings to match. This data has implications for discussions of poverty, consumption and family relationships.

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