Tokens of Care

Today our interviewees Sam Lee and Yomi Ṣode imagine different acts of care in lives connected with the tokens. Presented by Kathleen Palmer, former Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at London’s Foundling Museum. Written and produced by Minnie Scott with Louis Mealing. Music by Ben Jacob. Audio production by Will Jacob. Interviewees: Sam Lee, folk singer and Foundling Fellow. View the token Sam chose here. Yomi Ṣode, writer, playwright and poet, whose debut collection Manorism was published in 2022. View the token Yomi chose here. –– The tokens are your passport to Georgian London in our online exhibition, ⁠Tokens of History⁠. Discover different facets of eighteenth-century society, guided by nine historians. –– You can see Sam and Yomi's tokens, along with many others, on display at the Foundling Museum ⁠40 Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AZ⁠  Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠ Take this Token and Tokens of History are supported by the Woven Foundation, previously the Artisa Foundation, and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation.

Om Podcasten

How can such tiny objects hold so much meaning? Hear personal stories, historical insights and creative responses – all inspired by the Foundling tokens. The Founding Hospital was one of Britain's first children's homes established in London in 1739. In its early days, anyone giving a baby into its care would also leave a token. These precious, emotionally-charged objects are on display today at the Foundling Museum in London. We talk to people with a connection to the Museum who take one token and share what they know, what they feel and what they imagine.