Advertisement
Advertisement

Before Child Labor Laws: Every Boy & Girl had a Job

Updated on May 03, 2023. Originally added on Sep 20, 2017 by Kathy Pinna

You may be surprised to know that until the Great Depression children were an important part of the work economy in the United States.

In textile mills and coal mines where their small size was an asset, in canneries, and on farms (not just family farms), children performed many vital tasks.

Working conditions were rough, and thanks to photographers like Lewis Wickes Hine we have these photos to document what these children endured.

We were shocked by these photos, and think you might be too.

Continue Reading Below
Share and discover the people and places from your past

Photos of Child Labor History

Loading...one moment please loading spinner

Vaudeville Family

[ Click image for details ]

In 1917 vaudeville, the whole family, even infants, worked. Those were long days on the stage, often on the road.

Age 13, 7 days a week

[ Click image for details ]

This boy worked 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, and earned $3.25/wk at a dairy farm.

At least they had shoes!

[ Click image for details ]

6:30am and they're at work. But they have shoes - they work at a shoe factory.

Advertisement

Just plain weird!

[ Click image for details ]

A 1913 composite photo of children who worked in a cotton mill. Photographic magic without Photoshop!

Family affair

[ Click image for details ]

Remember Campbell Kid dolls? This mother and sons made their clothes.

Cranberry bog!

[ Click image for details ]

This boy (in 1938) wasn't helped by the Child Labor law - agriculture was (and is) exempt.

1909 protest

[ Click image for details ]

These two girls (one with a banner in English, one in Yiddish) are protesting child labor at a May Day parade.

Advertisement

Going to work in the dark

[ Click image for details ]

These children are going to work at 6p and will return home at 6a - working the night through.

Getting paid to go to school

[ Click image for details ]

This young girl is receiving her weekly stipend to attend school - given by the New York Child Labor Committee.

1912 spinner

[ Click image for details ]

This little girl looks well dressed - she's a spinner at the Aragon Mill.

15 yr old corset maker

[ Click image for details ]

This teen isn't in school or out with her friends, she's making corsets. 1917

Not playing stickball!

[ Click image for details ]

These boys worked at the Eclipse Mills in 1911.

It is fundamentally wrong!

[ Click image for details ]

This is a poster from the National Child Labor Committee stating that child labor is wrong.

Advertisement
History of the Child Labor Law: In 1904, the National Child Labor Committee (dedicated to abolishing child labor) was formed. This organization was successful in getting a national law passed and signed by President Wilson in 1916, but it was overturned by the Supreme Court. All efforts to protect children were blocked until the Great Depression, when adults needed the jobs that children had. In 1938, a law was passed protecting children in most industries - except farm labor. There is still no law covering agriculture and it is estimated that 500,000 children still work on farms (and they're not just children of farmers).

Have photos that you'd like to see included? Share your photos or see more photos of children who worked - as "newsboys" - on the next page.

Blog posts

Back to Top