The Lostling Archive
An archive, cultural collection, and resource bank about baby loss before the 1980s
Madge Gill, Faces with Almond Eyes, undated. Crown Copyright,London Borough of Newham Heritage Service.
Madge Gill (1882-1961) was a self-taught artist. She had three sons and a stillborn daughter. This drawing is in the tradition of historical family portraits that included depictions of lost children, counting them in.
About the Lostling Archive
The Lostling Archive was set up by writer and researcher Sarah Clement, who is currently working on a nonfiction book called Lostling: The story of stillbirth and the search for an invisible brother.
​
The Lostling Archive website is currently under development. It will include:
​
An archive of public testimony (links to stories, accounts, interviews, and research reports containing verbatim quotes) from parents of babies stillborn before 1985. This was the era when such parents typically were not allowed to see their baby or to know where the baby was buried. Accounts from the siblings of such babies, and from professionals working during this era, will also be included. There will be opportunities for these groups of people to contribute new testimony via this website using a questionnaire of prompts.
​
A cultural collection which will contain links to novels, poetry, and visual art which address historical baby loss.
​
A resource bank with information on how to obtain a copy of the stillbirth certificate for a baby lost long ago; strategies for locating a baby's grave; options for marking and memorialising historical baby loss; and organisations that can help.
​
​​
​
​
​
Please note: The information on this website is for personal use. If you wish to use the information for any professional, commercial, journalistic or academic context, please email Sarah Clement to discuss permission.
​