Sanitation Collection

Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s
WATER WASTE PREVENTER. Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s

Edward Farmer and his gang going underground cleaning scraps of paper and anything likely to cause obstruction in the culvert under Ludgate Circus. April 1st 1947

Water Closet. From Sir John Harington " The Metamorphosis of Ajax", 1556. Harrington installed a water closet in his house near Bath in 1589

Sewer cleaners in the Main Sewer, Paris, 1931. Artist: Ernest Flammarion
Sewer cleaners in the Main Sewer, Paris, 1931. Illustration from the book Paris published by Ernest Flammarion, (1931)

David Boswell Reid, M.D, F.R.S.E Doctor and sanitation reformer from Edinburgh, responsible for the ventilation and lighting of the House of Commons in the 1840s

Vespasienne (public urinal) on the Grands Boulevards, Paris, c. 1900 (b / w photo)
CHT430462 Vespasienne (public urinal) on the Grands Boulevards, Paris, c.1900 (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris, Paris

New Superloos in Hall Street, St Helens, Merseyside, 23rd February 1988

Public Toilets in Flatts Lane, in the Teeside area of England. The toilets are closed due to vandalism Picture taken 10th May 1992

Workmen inspect the underground sewer tunnel that extends from under the Mersey tunnel mouth to Ranelagh Street in central Liverpool. 18th January 1963

Daily Mirror photographer Bela Zola pictured in the centre, with London sewer men who he spent the day photographing. 1st April 1947

actinopterygii, animal, animals, aquatic, asia, asian, bluestreak, bony, cleaned
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) cleaning a Yellow-edged Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus), Maldive Islands, Indian Ocean

Advert, Davis & Bennett, heavy fireclay urinal stalls
Advert, Westminster Sanitary Works, Davis & Bennett, Heavy Fireclay Urinal Stalls. Date: 1903

Three children waiting in the kitchen while their mother prepares the... Washington, D.C, 1942. Creator: Gordon Parks
Washington, D.C. Three children waiting in the kitchen while their mother prepares the evening meal

Four young migratory potato pickers... FSA camp, Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Four young migratory potato pickers, travelling together, come into camp to ask manager whether they would be eligible for a hot bath

Exterior of shower unit, FSA camp, Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Exterior of shower unit. FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp. Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon. [Sign: Ladies ]

Twenty-four portable toilets, mobile camp (FSA), equipment, Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939
Twenty-four portable toilets, mobile camp (FSA - Farm Security Administration) equipment. Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon. [Mens on the left, womens on the right]

Portable laundry unit, shower unit beyond, FSA camp, Merrill, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Portable laundry unit, shower unit beyond. FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp, Merrill, Oregon

Four young migratory potato pickers, travelling together... Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939
Four young migratory potato pickers, travelling together, come into camp to ask manager whether they would be eligible for a hot bath

Interior of shower bath unit, FSA camp, Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Interior of shower bath unit. FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp. Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon

Young migrant girl makes use of facilities... Merrill FSA camp, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Young migrant girl makes use of facilities provided for cleanliness. Merrill FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp, Klamath County, Oregon

Sanitary facilities in camp of carrot pullers, near Holtville, Imperial Valley, California, 1939
Sanitary facilities in camp of carrot pullers. Near Holtville, Imperial Valley, California

Toilets provided for hop pickers in growers camp, near Grants Pass, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Toilets provided for hop pickers in growers camp. Near Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon. [ Women painted on wooden toilet building]

Toilet for ten cabins, men, women, and children, Arkansawyers auto camp, Greenfield, CA, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Toilet for ten cabins, men, women, and children. In Arkansawyers auto camp. Greenfield, California. [Sign: Do not throw cans in garbage ]

The Dazey place, Homedale district, Malheur County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
The Dazey place. Homedale district, Malheur County, Oregon. [Outside toilet and storm cellar]

Water supply for ten cabins in Arkansawyers auto camp. Greenfield, Salinas Valley, California, 1939
Water supply for ten cabins in Arkansawyers auto camp. Greenfield, Salinas Valley, California. [Sign: Please do not wash under the hydrant ]

Toilet for ten cabins, men, women... in auto camp... Greenfield, Salinas Valley, CA, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Toilet for ten cabins, men, women and children in auto camp for Arkansawyers, recent migrants to California. Rent for cabins ten dollars a month. Greenfield, Salinas Valley, California

Laundry facilities for ten cabins at Arkansawyers auto camp, Salinas Valley, CA, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Laundry facilities for ten cabins at Arkansawyers auto camp, Salinas Valley, California. Note stove to heat water

Steelmill workers company houses and outhouses, Republic Steel Company, Birmingham, Alabama, 1936
Steelmill workers company houses and outhouses [outside toilets]. Republic Steel Company, Birmingham, Alabama

Wife of tobacco sharecropper bathing her baby... Person County, North Carolina, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
[Untitled, possibly related to: Wife of tobacco sharecropper bathing her baby in kitchen. Person County, North Carolina]

The Morning, c. 1920 (colour litho)
CHT236763 The Morning, c.1920 (colour litho) by Raffin, Ferdinand (1870?-1948); Private Collection; © Archives Charmet

The Slum, poster from the Ministere de la Sante Publique, 1936 (colour litho)
MTL205880 The Slum, poster from the Ministere de la Sante Publique, 1936 (colour litho) by Poulbot, Francisque (1879-1946); Private Collection; (add.info.: help us to eradicate slums)

Cartoon commenting on death in London coming from disease in the polluted Thames, 1858 (wood engraving)
3245389 Cartoon commenting on death in London coming from disease in the polluted Thames, 1858 (wood engraving) by British School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures

Engraved certificate from the Great Central Fair for the U. S
3714748 Engraved certificate from the Great Central Fair for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, Logan Square, 1864 (colour litho) by American School

Street crime, 1554 (woodcut)
XJF277664 Street crime, 1554 (woodcut) by Jode, Gerard de (1509-91); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration from ENCHIRIDION RERUM CRIMINALIUM or PRAXIS RERUM CRIMINALIUM by the lawyer Joost de)

Sanitary inspector, Leeds, 1899 (b / w photo)
LLS218026 Sanitary inspector, Leeds, 1899 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Leeds Library and Information Service, Leeds

View of the Sanitary Institute, Health Exhibition, Leeds 1897 (b / w photo)
5917338 View of the Sanitary Institute, Health Exhibition, Leeds 1897 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Leeds Museums and Art Galleries (Abbey House Museum) UK; (add.info)

Sir Edwin Chadwick, English social reformer instrumental in changes to the Poor Laws
6014965 Sir Edwin Chadwick, English social reformer instrumental in changes to the Poor Laws and improvements in public health and sanitation (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Sanitary Map of the Town of Leeds, by Stephen Sly for Her Majestys Stationary Office
XCF291069 Sanitary Map of the Town of Leeds, by Stephen Sly for Her Majestys Stationary Office, 1842 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Leeds Library and Information Service, Leeds

Cartoon, Sanitary and insanitary matters
Larger figure representing the industries surrounding the River Thames like the soup boiling factory where bones were used and the knackers yard where injured animals were taken to be slaughtered

Ground plan of buildings of the Great Central Sanitary Fair, Logan Square
3714747 Ground plan of buildings of the Great Central Sanitary Fair, Logan Square, June 1864 (colour litho) by American School

Charity Fair At Teatro La Scala, Milan, For The Foundation Of A Popular Sanatorium (Colour Litho)
2798317 Charity Fair At Teatro La Scala, Milan, For The Foundation Of A Popular Sanatorium (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

View of a communal lavatory (photo)
GDG279953 View of a communal lavatory (photo) by Roman; Aree archeologiche di Ostia Antica e Isola Sacra, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: toilettes; empire romain; ); eGerard Degeorge; out of copyright

A George Jennings Patented Lavatory (engraving)
495466 A George Jennings Patented Lavatory (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: George Jennings (1810-82)

Public Disinfectors, from Street Life in London, 1877-78 (woodburytype)
SC28149 Public Disinfectors, from Street Life in London, 1877-78 (woodburytype) by Thomson, John (1837-1921); Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Scottish, out of copyright

View of a communal lavatory, High Imperial Period (27 BC-395 AD)
GDG267056 View of a communal lavatory, High Imperial Period (27 BC-395 AD) by Roman Imperial Period (27 BC-476 AD); Djemila

Dr Sutherland and Robert Rawlinson, 1855 (b / w photo)
NAM261150 Dr Sutherland and Robert Rawlinson, 1855 (b/w photo) by Fenton, Roger (1819-69); National Army Museum, London; (add.info)

Dolphin armest public toilet of the forum; High Imperial Period (27 BC-395 AD) (stone)
GDG267027 Dolphin armest public toilet of the forum; High Imperial Period (27 BC-395 AD) (stone) by Roman Imperial Period (27 BC-476 AD); Timgad

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"From Waiting for the Hour to Modern Innovations: A Journey through Sanitation History" Step back in time to 1863, where an unknown creator and William Tolman Carlton captured Edward Farmer and his gang diligently going underground, cleaning scraps of paper. This glimpse into the past reminds us of the tireless efforts made towards sanitation. Fast forward to the 1880s, when Thomas Crapper's revolutionary invention, the Water Waste Preventer, was patented. This innovation marked a significant milestone in improving sanitary conditions and preventing waste buildup. In 1931 Paris, artist Ernest Flammarion immortalized sewer cleaners working tirelessly in the Main Sewer. Their dedication showcased their commitment to maintaining cleanliness even in challenging environments. Traveling further back in history reveals Sir John Harington's creation - the Water Closet. This remarkable invention brought comfort and improved hygiene standards for centuries to come. David Boswell Reid's contributions cannot be overlooked either. His expertise paved the way for advancements in sanitation systems that we benefit from today. The advert by Davis & Bennett showcasing heavy fireclay urinal stalls demonstrates how businesses have played a vital role in providing clean facilities for public use throughout history. A snapshot of early 20th-century Paris takes us to Vespasiennes or public urinals on Grands Boulevards. These structures served as essential amenities ensuring proper sanitation practices were accessible to all. Even aquatic life benefits from cleanliness. Actinopterygii fish species like bluestreak bony fish thrive when their habitats are properly cleaned and maintained across Asia. Moving closer to modern times brings us face-to-face with New Superloos installed on Hall Street, St Helens, Merseyside in February 1988. These state-of-the-art facilities represented progress towards more hygienic public toilets available for everyone's convenience. Finally, workmen inspecting underground sewer tunnels beneath Mersey tunnel remind us that behind every clean and functional system, there are dedicated individuals ensuring its smooth operation.