Efforts to Reform Child Labor

As you view each photograph take note about what you see. (note people, background, objects) Pretend you were describing the image to someone who could not see it. Try to avoid making judgments.

Where are these children? List any clues relating to their surroundings.
Describe any tools or objects you see.
Describe their clothing. What do their clothes reveal about their work?

Subjective Assessment


What questions do you have about each of these photographs?
Based on your observations, list three things you might infer about the lives of these children. (Be sure to consider Hine's notes about the photographs when considering this.


Photograph A
In this photo it show a young girl working in a cotton mill already for one year. Even though she is young, she has to work four rows of machines for very little pay - about 48 cents an hour. This girl's clothes seem not appropriate for working in a cotton mill, it seems loose fitting and could easily get get caught in the machines, not to mention it looks filthy. Three things that I can infer about this child's life, are that one, they were very dirty, two, they got little pay, and three, they weren't paid very much.

Photograph B
These girls are unhappy, and don't look like they want to work, they look disgruntled and unhappy that they are getting their pictures taken. They also look like they have bad back problems and most of them are a little... deformed.

Photograph C
This shows a very young girl who is obviously working there even though their overseer's say that she "just happened in" or "is helping sister." People who were in charge of these businesses obviously don't care how young the child is, as long as they can work.


Photograph D
In this photo there is a small boy selling newpapers on the streets. He looks very unhappy and you can only imajine how long he has been selling papers. He almost looks like he's worried he will be in big trouble because nobosy seems to be buying his papers.

Photograph E
In this photo there is many boy's working in filthy conditions with dust in the air everywhere. This would damage the boy's lungs greatly. Also this show cruel working conditions because it shows a bigger boys standing over the smaller boys ready to beat them into shape i they don't work hard enough or disobey.

Photograph F
This is a picture of many boys working hard in an Indiana Glass Works company. Even though it says it is nine in the evening these boys show no sign of stopping. Also, it looks like dangerous conditions because there is many pipes that look loose and are probably very hot.

Photograph G
This is a horrible picture of people of all ages working in an oyster shucking and canning industry. Even a toddler who is probably barely three is working. It states that there is an expected work hour of 3:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at least with most likely no breaks. the mother of the little toddlers doesn't even seem to mind that her child is working at such a young age and says, "she is a real help to me."

Photograph H
In this photo its show children working the night shift in a mill in horrible, chilling conditions. Some of the children have to work so hard because there is no laws against parents not having to support their children. These conditions were so horrible that children probably died in these conditions. they had to work 12 hour shifts..