The Whitwar, 1903

The Whitwar was an extremely small circulation subscription-based magazine that was first published in 1903 by twelve-year-old Miss Gladys Evelyn Warren and her friends. Sold for one shilling a copy, the magazine was created to raise money for the Little Folks Ward at the North Eastern Children’s Hospital in Bethnal Green, with the hope that the funds raised “will help to keep some poor little children warm.”

It is not known how long the Whitwar magazine remained in circulation. Searches online and in archives have uncovered very few results. An article in The Gentlewoman in 1908 records Gladys having been awarded a certificate for her work on the magazine; this article reveals that by 1908 it was now a bi-annual publication and had featured contributions by L. T. Meade, Frank Stevens and the Rev. Canon E. R. Holmes.

Revival of The Whitwar, 2026

This site is my attempt to bring back to life a small charitable magazine from the early twentieth century called The Whitwar. I became the unexpected custodian of what I believe to be the only known surviving copy (Spring 1904) of this magazine, after purchasing it when it came up for auction around 2015.

I bought it because I was interested in the cards that are glued inside. But since flicking through its pages for the first time, I felt a responsibility to share its story. What began as a fortunate find has grown into a personal project of preservation, tribute, and continuation of the generous spirit in which it was first created.

I recognise that the problem of children living in poverty remains as urgent today as it was in 1903, and in that spirit I have chosen to continue Gladys Warren’s generous endeavour under The Whitwar name.

The original magazine drew its strength from the varied articles, stories, puzzles, and illustrations submitted by its contributors, and it is my hope that this new edition will do the same.

The original magazine has been faithfully transcribed and made available on this site. The next undertaking is the preparation of a new issue, for which contributions are now sought.

The revived edition will adopt a period tone while remaining accessible and relevant to a modern audience of all ages.

Please read my project Charter → to see if it is something you would like to be a part of.