This book explores a central methodological issue at the heart of studies of the histories of
children and childhood. It questions how we understand the perspectives of children in the past
and not just those of the adults who often defined and constrained the parameters of youthful
lives. Drawing on a range of different sources including institutional records interviews
artwork diaries letters memoirs and objects this interdisciplinary volume uncovers the
voices of historical children and discusses the challenges of situating these voices and
interpreting juvenile agency and desire. Divided into four sections the book considers
children's voices in different types of historical records examining children's letters and
correspondence as well as multimedia texts such as film advertising and art along with oral
histories and institutional archives.
