People's Palace

The People’s Palace (1888-1953) was a charity based on Mile End Road, London, for the purpose of providing an educational and cultural centre for the people of East London. They hosted a variety of events, including lectures, concerts and organ recitals, shows of birds and flowers, exhibitions of animals and pictures, and fetes.

The technical and higher education provided by the People's Palace later developed into Queen Mary University of London. From 1896 the higher education offered at the People’s Palace was called East London Technical College and in 1905 changed to East London College. East London College became a school of the University of London in 1907.

Available here is The Palace Journal a weekly chronicle published by the People’s Palace between 16 Nov 1887-February 1896. The purpose of The Palace Journal was as a “chronicle of the rise and progress and the onward march of the Palace” according to the first issue. This makes it an essential record of the early history of the People’s Palace and Queen Mary.

The journal issues include articles about the Palace, general 'public interest' articles, poetry and stories. Regular features include 'Palace Gossip', 'Men Who have Risen', The Members' Column, The Ladies Column, Society and Club Notes, Musical Notes, Class Notes, Letters to the Editor, and Competitions, Puzzles and Prizes, and advertisements.

More from the People’s Palace collection (ref. QM/1) is available to view in our Archives Reading Room and a full catalogue of the People’s Palace collection can be browsed online.

Content warning for the Palace Journal

Within this collection you will find: racial stereotypes; historical language to describe race now understood to be offensive; language around mental health and disability now recognised as offensive; descriptions of domestic violence.

This is not an exhaustive list of what you may encounter in this collection and it's possible you may come across content beyond the scope of this content warning that you find upsetting or offensive. Please let us know so we can make improvements: archives@qmul.ac.uk.