SRS 7: Stepney Street Traders Association Minute Book (Executive Committee), 1909
The Stepney Street Trader’s Association was a conglomeration made up predominately of Petticoat Lane traders the majority of whom appear to have been Jewish. The SSTA, as well as the Whitechapel Street Traders’ Association met regularly at Sandys Row Synagogue, which is where this minute book was located although meetings also took place at other locations, including The Nags Head public house in Houndsditch [Wednesday, Jan.13th 1909]. Members from other societies sometimes joined them, such as the Jewish Independent Traders and the Street Sellers Union amongst others. The minutes from these meetings are documented in detail in this handwritten book of 2 pages. Pages 1 -244 consist of handwritten minutes from meetings of the SSTA from the year 1909. Subjects range from Sunday trading laws, a member being reprimanded for using an orange box instead of a dustbin for depositing rubbish, a member being called up to explain why his stall was used for illegal purposes after a complaint by the police, fortifying the stalls against bad weather, raising funds through members going to football matches and recruiting new members amongst many other matters. The SSTA became “a friend” to those involved; each member was regarded as “Brother” or “Sister” in meeting notes and the association actively worked to help members who were sick, ailing or having financial difficulties. SSTA additionally served as a liaison between the traders and the municipality. The minutes mention petitions against the Stepney Borough Council regarding unlicensed traders and how the organisation battled with the Department of Health over the dangers of selling unwrapped ice cream. Pages 245 – 282 consist of brief handwritten notes in pencil dating from 1939 to 1943. They are hard to decipher.
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SRS 7: Stepney Street Traders Association Minute Book (Executive Committee), 1909
The Stepney Street Trader’s Association was a conglomeration made up predominately of Petticoat Lane traders the majority of whom appear to have been Jewish. The SSTA, as well as the Whitechapel Street Traders’ Association met regularly at Sandys Row Synagogue, which is where this minute book was located although meetings also took place at other locations, including The Nags Head public house in Houndsditch [Wednesday, Jan.13th 1909]. Members from other societies sometimes joined them, such as the Jewish Independent Traders and the Street Sellers Union amongst others. The minutes from these meetings are documented in detail in this handwritten book of 2 pages. Pages 1 -244 consist of handwritten minutes from meetings of the SSTA from the year 1909. Subjects range from Sunday trading laws, a member being reprimanded for using an orange box instead of a dustbin for depositing rubbish, a member being called up to explain why his stall was used for illegal purposes after a complaint by the police, fortifying the stalls against bad weather, raising funds through members going to football matches and recruiting new members amongst many other matters. The SSTA became “a friend” to those involved; each member was regarded as “Brother” or “Sister” in meeting notes and the association actively worked to help members who were sick, ailing or having financial difficulties. SSTA additionally served as a liaison between the traders and the municipality. The minutes mention petitions against the Stepney Borough Council regarding unlicensed traders and how the organisation battled with the Department of Health over the dangers of selling unwrapped ice cream. Pages 245 – 282 consist of brief handwritten notes in pencil dating from 1939 to 1943. They are hard to decipher.