‘We Are The Brady Girls – Part 2’ Exhibition has returned to its original home in Whitechapel.
The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into previously unseen photographs of the pivotal role of the Brady Girls Club in shaping Jewish youth from the 1920s until the 1980s.
Jewish Youth in East London
The free exhibition provides a timeless return to youth, crafting the interchanging generations of Jewish women across east London.
It creates a bridge of history, exploring a deeper understanding of youth, friendship and the secular Jewish life in Tower Hamlets.
Founded in 1925 by Miriam Moses, the Brady Girls Club aimed to create a space of empowerment for underprivileged immigrant Jewish families.
Moses, the Chairman of the Girl’s Club, along with a small group of volunteers, established what is now the Brady Arts & Community Centre, a purposeful centre still in use today.
The Evolution of the Exhibition
The exhibition is an ongoing project that began in 2016, with directors from the Brady Archive working on the collections of rescued photos from the 1970s.
They wanted to juxtapose pictures along the space where it happened, visualising history coming alive.
Whilst selecting the photos, the directors focused on reminding the visitors of its youth centre history as well as the range of fun activities and trips the girls were involved in.
Brady Archive Video and Photography Manager Susan Andrews has dedicated herself to uncovering the stories behind the black-and-white images.
For Perceval, the photos echo today’s youth.
She said: “It helps give the impression of what it was like at a young centre.
“Moses wanted them to move beyond their circumstances and achieve.
“Part of that was creating well-rounded people.”
Andrews leads the project alongside Paul Brent, chairman of The Bradians Trust, and Brady Archive Project manager Anna Perceval.
Empowering and Connecting Youth
Through these photographs, young people can easily connect with the past, experiencing a sense of nostalgia for the fun, freedom, and friendship that defined the Brady Girls Club.
Perceval stressed the importance of sharing these stories, particularly in light of the club’s efforts to prevent youth crime and promote positive engagement.
Highlights of the Exhibition
Highlights of the exhibition include rescued historical photography and personal narrative stories of women whose lives were shaped by the community.
The project began with micro-stories discussing the discovery of individual Jewish immigration stories from surviving members.
Perceval, who spoke to members of the club, said: “It never left their lives.
“It formed a part of their identity.”
For former member, June Jacobs (Née Caller) the club was a space of deep friendship.
She said: “When I reflect on what Brady and Skeet meant to me, I would say it gave me love, companionship, fun and a different and wider perspective on life.”
Another former member, Hannah Quarress said: “To describe being a long-standing member of Brady would be to describe and portray life itself.
“One would rush home from school or work in order that we waste no time and spend as much opportunity as possible at the club.”
Architecture a Storytelling Told
An important part of the exhibition for Perceval is the architectural history of the space.
She believed exploring the historical space is a central theme of the exhibition, with photos shaped around the sport and artistic activities that took place.
The original photos are stored at Bishopsgate Institute and can be viewed by visitors.
Expanding the Legacy Through New Platforms
The Brady Archive hopes to open the exhibition to other media platforms, building on the voices of the Jewish women.
The organisation has published the Brady Clubs Memory Map, where visitors can experience the history of the club through first-hand stories of former members.
The exhibition’s directors will run the Open House Festival on the 21st September.
The event will be centred around the city’s architecture with a short film screening including, The Brady Girls Club, as well as The Brady Boys Club.
Future plans also include a three month interactive exhibition in Tower Hamlets and a podcast exploring different aspects of the Brady Stories.
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