Working Conditions: Working Conditions: Child LaborChild Labor

Basket Basket Sellers; 1908Sellers; 1908

Bottle Factory; 1908Bottle Factory; 1908

Box Factory; Box Factory;

Boy lost Arm Boy lost Arm running Saw in running Saw in

Box FactoryBox Factory

SweatshopSweatshop

Carrying Carrying Homework Homework

from from SweatshopSweatshop

Leaving the Leaving the factory with factory with coats to be coats to be

sewn at sewn at home, NYC, home, NYC,

19121912

Climbing up on the machinery to Climbing up on the machinery to replace bobbins.replace bobbins.

Spinning Room; MassachusettsSpinning Room; Massachusetts

A young textile mill worker, probably in a New A young textile mill worker, probably in a New Hampshire mill, n.d. Photo by Lewis Hine.Hampshire mill, n.d. Photo by Lewis Hine.

Girls Weaving; 1908Girls Weaving; 1908

Mill workers at their looms Mill workers at their looms

Breaker Boys, South Pittston, Breaker Boys, South Pittston, Pennsylvania, 1911Pennsylvania, 1911

Child Coal WorkersChild Coal Workers

Coal Coal MinersMiners

Cigar Factory; 1908Cigar Factory; 1908

Young cigarmakers in the Englehardt & Company factory at Young cigarmakers in the Englehardt & Company factory at Tampa, Florida, January 1909. Lewis Hine wrote, "Three boys Tampa, Florida, January 1909. Lewis Hine wrote, "Three boys

looked under 14. Work was slack and youngsters were not looked under 14. Work was slack and youngsters were not being employed much. Labor leaders told me in busy times being employed much. Labor leaders told me in busy times many small boys and girls were employed. Youngsters all many small boys and girls were employed. Youngsters all

smoke." Photo by Lewis Hine.smoke." Photo by Lewis Hine.

Garment Workers; 1908Garment Workers; 1908

Glass Blower; 1908Glass Blower; 1908

Glassworker Glassworker

Teenage boy worked in Teenage boy worked in factory for two years.factory for two years.

This 15-year-old This 15-year-old Millville, New Millville, New Jersey, boy had Jersey, boy had worked in a glass worked in a glass factory for two factory for two years, including years, including some night work. some night work. November 1909 November 1909 photo by Lewis photo by Lewis Hine.Hine.

9 Year Old Newsgirl9 Year Old Newsgirl

NewsieNewsiess

Lewis Hine wrote, "4-year-old Mary, who shucks oysters Lewis Hine wrote, "4-year-old Mary, who shucks oysters (two pots a day). Tends the baby when not working. The (two pots a day). Tends the baby when not working. The boss said Mary will work as steady as the rest of them. boss said Mary will work as steady as the rest of them. The mother is the fastest shucker in the place. Earns The mother is the fastest shucker in the place. Earns $1.50 a day. Works part of the time with her sick baby in $1.50 a day. Works part of the time with her sick baby in her arms. Father works on the docks." Photographed at her arms. Father works on the docks." Photographed at Dunbar, Louisiana, March 1911, by Lewis Hine.Dunbar, Louisiana, March 1911, by Lewis Hine.

Shucking OystersShucking Oysters

An immigrant family doing piecework in a dirty, poorly An immigrant family doing piecework in a dirty, poorly lighted New York City tenement. Hines wrote that "Pauline 6 lighted New York City tenement. Hines wrote that "Pauline 6 years old, works after school. Peter, 8 works until 8 p.m. years old, works after school. Peter, 8 works until 8 p.m. Mike 12 years old, until 10 p.m. Father keeps a rag shop."Mike 12 years old, until 10 p.m. Father keeps a rag shop."

►LLewis Hine's captions for his photographs ewis Hine's captions for his photographs provide a wealth of information about the provide a wealth of information about the working conditions, incomes, ages, sizes, working conditions, incomes, ages, sizes, and lives of the people shown. In many and lives of the people shown. In many cases, what the children or families cases, what the children or families earned was mentioned. But how can we earned was mentioned. But how can we compare what they made in 1908 to 1912 compare what they made in 1908 to 1912 with what people earn today? Obviously, with what people earn today? Obviously, the Young family that survived on $9.00 a the Young family that survived on $9.00 a week in 1909 could never do that today. week in 1909 could never do that today. Because of inflation, $9.00 was worth Because of inflation, $9.00 was worth much more then than it is now. But was it much more then than it is now. But was it enough? The following are a few enough? The following are a few examples with the children's earnings examples with the children's earnings converted to today's money.converted to today's money.

► The Young family worked at a mill in Tifton, The Young family worked at a mill in Tifton, Georgia, in 1909. The mother, four daughters Georgia, in 1909. The mother, four daughters and one son worked in the mill and earned a and one son worked in the mill and earned a combined income of $9.00 a week. Mrs. Young's combined income of $9.00 a week. Mrs. Young's husband died so that had to support the entire husband died so that had to support the entire family -- the mother and nine children. If that family -- the mother and nine children. If that was today's money, they would be living on was today's money, they would be living on $166.38 a week, or $8,652 for the entire year. $166.38 a week, or $8,652 for the entire year. The federal government's poverty line for a The federal government's poverty line for a family of ten was $34,450 for the year 2000. family of ten was $34,450 for the year 2000. The Young family would have been living on The Young family would have been living on about one-quarter of that amount.about one-quarter of that amount.

► Hattie Hunter, a Hattie Hunter, a young spinner in the young spinner in the Lancaster Cotton Mills Lancaster Cotton Mills in Lancaster, South in Lancaster, South Carolina, made 50 Carolina, made 50 cents a day in 1908. cents a day in 1908. In today's money, In today's money, that would be $8.91 a that would be $8.91 a day or $53.46 a week. day or $53.46 a week. If Hattie was paid If Hattie was paid today's federal today's federal minimum wage with minimum wage with time and half for time and half for overtime, she would overtime, she would make $72.10 a day, make $72.10 a day, or $432.60 a week in or $432.60 a week in today's money.today's money.

Alberta McNadd, a 5-Alberta McNadd, a 5-year-old berry picker year-old berry picker on Chester Truitt’s on Chester Truitt’s Farm, Delaware, was Farm, Delaware, was paid two cents a box paid two cents a box in 1909. She picks in 1909. She picks steadily from sun-up steadily from sun-up to sun-down. A to sun-down. A young picker, she young picker, she filled only two boxes filled only two boxes a day so she made a day so she made four cents a day. four cents a day. Laura missed school Laura missed school to pick berries for to pick berries for only 74 cents a day only 74 cents a day or $4.44 a week in or $4.44 a week in today's money.today's money.

► In 1911, boys 7 to 12 years old who cut In 1911, boys 7 to 12 years old who cut fish in an Eastport, Maine, canning factory fish in an Eastport, Maine, canning factory earned 75 cents to $1.00 a day. They earned 75 cents to $1.00 a day. They worked very long hours, sometimes from worked very long hours, sometimes from 7:00 A.M. to midnight. Working all those 7:00 A.M. to midnight. Working all those hours, they still only made $13.37 to hours, they still only made $13.37 to $17.83 a day in today's money. People $17.83 a day in today's money. People working today at the federal minimum working today at the federal minimum wage earn more than that in three to four wage earn more than that in three to four hours.hours.

Average size of family................................... 7 Average size of family................................... 7 ► Average rent per month...................................$ 11.17 Average rent per month...................................$ 11.17 ► Average number of rooms................................... 4 Average number of rooms................................... 4 ► Average amount to cover food, lighting, clothing, Average amount to cover food, lighting, clothing,

insurance, emergencies,etc., for 7 insurance, emergencies,etc., for 7 people...................... $13.94 per weekpeople...................... $13.94 per week

HomeworkerHomeworker: : Average weekly income of fatherAverage weekly income of father

$7.13$7.13

Average monthly income of fatherAverage monthly income of father $30.0$30.000

Non HomeworkerNon Homeworker::Average weekly income of fatherAverage weekly income of father

$16.1$16.177

Average monthly income of fatherAverage monthly income of father $65.0$65.000

Average rent per monthAverage rent per month $11.1$11.177

Average expenses per month (family of Average expenses per month (family of 7)7)

$55.0$55.000

WORK PRICE PER PIECE WEEKLY INCOME Finishing coats.............6c a piece $2.40 to $3.00

Finishing pants.............6c to 10c a pair $3.00 to $4.20 Making violets..............3c a gross up $2.75 to $3.50

Making little roses.........8c a gross $2.75 to $4.00 Making large roses..........16c to 18c a gross $3.00 (7 and 8

petals) Making baby dresses.........45c a dozen $3.20 to $5.00 (Sewing up

two sides, hemming skirt, making sleeves and sewing them in, gathering and binding the neck into a band, sewing on one button

and making one button hole.) Embroidering crepe de.......$5.00 a dress china dresses (It takes

10 days to complete one.)