In 1939 Dorothy and James de Rothschild of the famous banking family, arranged for the rescue of 30 boys aged 6 to 14 from a Jewish children's home in Frankfurt am Main. They were brought from the Flersheim-Sichel-Stiftung, which was run by the warden, Hugo Steinhardt. Hugo Steinhardt along with his wife and two daughters accompanied the boys and the family became resident at the Rothschild’s property at Waddesdon known as The Cedars.

Helga Brown née Steinhardt, was the youngest daughter of Hugo Steinhardt and creator of this collection.