This index is a summary of key information relating to permits of exemption issued to workers who came within the scope of the Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower Trade Board - individuals who were regarded as being "affected by any infirmity or physical injury which renders [them] incapable of earning that minimum time-rate". The data is taken from summarised applications for permits of exemption submitted to members of the Board. Click on the case number to see a digitised version of the original source - this can include more information.

Archives at the Modern Records Centre include historical terminology used to describe medical conditions or aspects of disability. This language reflects the context in which the material was created, and may be considered offensive today.

Number	Date	Age	Gender	Employer	Location	Reason	Other info
OF9781/22Link opens in a new window	17 Oct 1922	31	Female	E. Machin	62a De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland, N.	"Infantilism"	"A stunted dwarf being about the size of a child of 8". Includes minutes of interview with worker's mother and letter from Mayor of Shoreditch. "Stated that apart from her lack of height there is nothing wrong with the girl" and "is doing as much work as the other workers, and is receiving less money for it". "Mr Machin is apparently an employer of the bullying type and the worker is afraid of him".
OF11601/21Link opens in a new window	1922	17	Female	J. Wilson & Co.	332 Goswell Road, EC	"Deformity of right hand"	-
OF13983/21Link opens in a new window	1922	30	Female	E. Machin	62a De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland, N.	"Deformity and bad health"	-
OF13984/21Link opens in a new window	1922	61	Female	E. Machin	62a De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland, N.	"Advanced age"	-
OF13985/21Link opens in a new window	1922	61	Female	E. Machin	62a De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland, N.	"Advanced age"	-
OF13986/21Link opens in a new window	1922	25	Female	E. Machin	62a De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland, N.	"Deformity and ill health"	-
OF15372/21Link opens in a new window	1922	24	Female	E. Machin	62a De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland, N.	"Old infantile paralysis which renders one arm and hand useless"	-
OF12039/21Link opens in a new window	1922	47	Female	E. & E. Kohn Ltd.	1/11 Cottage Lane, City Road, EC	"General debility"	-
OF13042/21Link opens in a new window	1922	55	Female	E. E. Kohn Ltd.	4/11 Cottage Lane, City Road, EC	"Ulcer of leg"	-
OF11070/21Link opens in a new window	1922	57	Male	Mr M. Symons	18 Australia Avenue, EC1	"Very bad eyesight"	-
OF10507/21Link opens in a new window	1922	27	Female	G. & H. Rowell	81 Brownlow Road, Queen's Road, Dalston	"Epilepsy"	-
OF11382/21Link opens in a new window	1922	18	Female	I. Salaman & Co. Ltd.	Monkwell House, Falcon Square, EC	"Mitral disease"	-
OF10750/21Link opens in a new window	1922	18	Female	Greener & Wyrell	75 Golden Lane, EC1	"Loss of right eye"	-
OF4737/22Link opens in a new window	1922	17	Female	Perry & Dawson Ltd.	5/7 Cripplegate Street, London	"Loss of right eye"	-
OF405/22Link opens in a new window	1922	32	Male	J. Roller & Co. Ltd.	Barbican, EC1	"Injury to left eye"	-
OF7261/21Link opens in a new window	1922	26	Female	Vyse, Sons & Co. Ltd.	75 Wood Street, EC	"Infantism"	-
OF7262/21Link opens in a new window	1922	29	Female	Vyse, Sons & Co. Ltd.	75 Wood Street, EC	"Chlorosis"	-
OF9541/22Link opens in a new window	28 Oct 1922	70	Male	J. Smith (London Wall) Ltd.	London, N1	"Old age"	"Like all the other workers, receives dinner and tea free", along with 2 weeks paid holiday each year (plus extra allowance for food)
OF4738/22Link opens in a new window	19 Feb 1923	17	Female	Perry & Dawson Ltd.	5-6 Cripplegate Street, EC1	"Undersized"	"Delicate and undersized". "Cruelly treated at home by her step-father… half-starved"
OF10313/22Link opens in a new window	19 Feb 1923	18	Female	S. Haya Kawa	16 Edward Street, Hampstead Road, N	"Apparently no physical injury or infirmity"	"A learner entitled to 29s". Mother asked for her to be paid 20s a week rather than be dismissed. "Very good at her work". Not regarded as a suitable case for a permit as "the only handicap being a slight stuttering in her speech due to nervousness"
OF4825/24Link opens in a new window	1924	27	Female	Julia Davis Ltd.	27/31 Earl Street, Finsbury Square, EC	"Mentally slow"	"Apparently incapable of learning anything". Had been unemployed from Sep 1922-Mar 1924.
OF6945/23Link opens in a new window	1924	17	Female	W. Strange & Co.	66a Aldersgate Street, EC	"Spinal curvature"	"Able to follow a light occupation"
OF3495/24Link opens in a new window	1924	18	Female	G.T. Culpitt & Son	73a Canonbury Road, Islington, N1	"Cardiac debility and unable to follow heavy employment"	-
OF2635/24Link opens in a new window	1924	18	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	7/8 Brackley Street, Golden Lane, EC	"Lame"	-
OF4738/22Link opens in a new window	20 Mar 1924	18	Female	Perry & Dawson Ltd.	5 Cripplegate Street, SE1	"Delicate and ill-nourished and undersized"	"Cruelly ill-treated at home by her step father. … She comes to work with a slice of bread to last her the whole day. "The worker states that she tries as hard as she can"
OF7812/22Link opens in a new window	20 Mar 1924	57	Female	E. & E. Kohn Ltd.	4 Cottage Lane, EC	"Ulcer of leg"	-
OF1374/23Link opens in a new window	20 Mar 1924	21	Female	A. Arrobus & Son	3 Basterfield Street, EC1	"Paralysis of right hand"	"Has had a short and weak arm (right) from birth". In present employment for 4 years.
OF4735/23Link opens in a new window	20 Mar 1924	18	Female	G.M. Veitch	23 Osborne Road, Stroud Green, N4	"General debility"	Will be discharged if permit not granted
OF3851/1924Link opens in a new window	1925	19	Female	Perry & Dawson Ltd.	5-7 Cripplegate Street, EC1	"Undersized and undeveloped mental powers"	"Cruelly ill-treated at home by her stepfather"
OF1396/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	17	Female	W. Strange & Co. Ltd.	Globe Factory, South Street, Romford	"Spinal curvature"	Firm reported to be a good one. Workers' parents "very anxious" for her to remain and have been advised by "Bartholomew's Hospital that it is important that the girl's mind should be occupied with some light work"
OF5442/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	17	Female	E.F. Spence & Co.	1-6 Beech Lane, EC	"Hip disease"	Includes letter from Secretary, After Care Association for Blind, Deaf & Crippled Children, requesting the permit.
OF5758/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	16	Male	F. Smith & Sons	22 St James Street, Leeds	"Epileptic"	Certified by the Leeds School Medical Officer
OF5758/2/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	16	Female	F. Smith & Sons	22 St James Street, Leeds	"Mentally defective"	Certified by the Leeds School Medical Officer
OF5758/3/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	16	Female	F. Smith & Sons	22 St James Street, Leeds	"Mentally defective"	Certified by the Leeds School Medical Officer
OF5758/4/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	17	Female	F. Smith & Sons	22 St James Street, Leeds	"Deafness"	Certified by the Leeds School Medical Officer
OF4735/23Link opens in a new window	1925	19	Female	G.E. Veitch	23 Osborne Road, Stroud Green, N4	"Debility"	-
OF2635/24Link opens in a new window	1925	17	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	7-8 Brackley Street, EC1	"Lame"	"Suffered from Tubercular hip at 3 years of age; cured at Alexandra Hospital, Bloomsbury at 9 years. … Can walk quite well with surgical boot"
OF6064/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	18	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	7-8 Brackley Street, EC1	"Lameness due to infantile paralysis"	-
OF6065/1925Link opens in a new window	1925	17	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	7-8 Brackley Street, EC1	"Loss of arm"	-
OF856/25Link opens in a new window	1926	32	Female	Vyse Sons and Company Limited	76 Wood Street, E.C.2.	"Chlorosis"	Forewoman stated "worker suffered with her nerves and could not be given work which was at all difficult." In opinion of the Officer "The worker did not appear to be in good health."
OF857/25Link opens in a new window	1926	29	Female	Vyse Sons and Company Limited	76 Wood Street, E.C.2.	"Arrested Development"	Forewoman stated "worker suffered was only able to do simple work and even then wasted a good deal of the time of the worker opposite her in ascertaining how her work should be done."
OF3495/24Link opens in a new window	1926	19	Female	G. T. Culpitt and Son	39 Dame street, Islington, N1	"Cardiac debility"	-
OF5442/25Link opens in a new window	1926	18	Female	E. F. Spence and Company	1-6 Beech Lane, Barbican, EC1	"Diseased left hip with permanent shortening of the leg"	-
OF2635/24Link opens in a new window	1926	18	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	Brackley Street, Golden Lane, EC1	"Tubercular Hip (left)"	"Worker suffered from Tubercular Hip (left) at the age of three years; was cured at Alexander Hospital, Bloomsbury at nine years, since when she had has enjoyed good and uninterrupted health - Present condition. Can walk well with surgical boot".
OF6064/1925Link opens in a new window	1926	17	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	Brackley Street, Golden Lane, EC1	"Lameness through Infantile Paralysis"	-
OF6065/1925Link opens in a new window	1926	18	Female	S.H. & M. Weiler	Brackley Street, Golden Lane, EC1	"Loss of one arm"	-
OF1118/26Link opens in a new window	1927	21	Female	G.E. Veitch	23 Osborne Road, Stroud Green, N4	"General Debility"	Medical Certificate states "worker was suffering from general debility and was unable to follow her employment to its full extent" A second medical certificate stated "worker was suffering from general debility and unable to do heavy work"
OF5638/26Link opens in a new window	1927	19	Female	W. Strange	66 Aldersgate Street, EC	"Spinal Curvature"	"Workers parents were very anxious that her employment should be continued, as this was the only suitable employment that could be found for her and they were advised by the medical authorities at Bartholomew's Hospital that it was important that the girl's mind should be occupied by light work"
OF6015/27Link opens in a new window	1928	34	Female	Vyse Sons and Company Limited	76 Wood Street, E.C.2.	"Chlorosis"	Medical certificate states "has been under my care intermittently for several years suffering from Dysmenorrhea. Occasionally the pain is so severe as to render her unfit for work at these periods." Forewoman stated " worker suffered with her nerves and could not be given work which was at all difficult".
OF6016/27Link opens in a new window	1928	31	Female	Vyse Sons and Company Limited	76 Wood Street, E.C.2.	"Arrested Development"	Forewoman stated "worker suffered was only able to do simple work and even then wasted a good deal of the time of the worker opposite her in ascertaining how her work should be done."
OF5644/27Link opens in a new window	1928	37	Male	Rose and Benjamin Ltd	7 Hamsell Street, EC1	"Undersized"	Medical Certificate states "worker is only 4 ft. 10 ins. in height and is undeveloped in other respects. His working powers are under the average man's." An Officer stated "in addition to his diminutive stature the worker has exceptionally bad sight." The worker states "his sight is such that he cannot see colours and therefore cannot assist in the actual dyeing process." "Worker is too short to reach the washing sink and has to use a stool for this purpose". Worker does not feel he is slower than other workers "but the fact that his fingers are short in relation to the size of his hand is bound to hinder him considerably in any manual occupation." Officer states worker has "made about forty applications for jobs in various firms before obtaining his present post and in each of these cases the firms turned him down on account of his small stature" "the man's poor sight alone would be adequate grounds for granting a permit. It was found on testing the worker, he could only read with difficulty the largest print on the front of the Trade Board Determination..." "though the man is not clearly mentally deficient, he is low in intelligence" and employer states "he refuses to do any job he has not done before" "This seems to indicate slight mental deficiency, to what degree I was unable to determine."
OF5643/27Link opens in a new window	1928	34	Male	Rose and Benjamin Ltd	7 Hamsell Street, EC1	"Defective sight"	Medical Certificate states "suffering with an affection of the eye". Officer states "worker has exceptionally bad sight. He cannot read the largest print and has difficulty even in distinguishing objects. He is in fact more than half blind" "This worker owing to his disability is practically unemployable. He cannot even see well enough to do messenger's work."