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Most of the photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs, 20 to 200 megabytes in size) from the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) Many were digitized by LOC contractors using a Sinar studio back. They are adjusted by your webmaster for contrast and color in Photoshop before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here.
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Today's Top 5
A Little Spinner: 1909
Submitted by Dave on Wed, 06/13/2007 - 8:24pm.
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January 1909. "A little spinner in Globe Cotton Mill. Augusta, Ga. The overseer admitted she was regularly employed." View full size. Lewis Wickes Hine.
Solemn Look
Submitted by Mike on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 1:14am.
Definitely not what you should see when you look into the eyes of a child. I think I need to get the print of this to look at when I feel the need to complain about having a oh so tough day at work.
The Jungle
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 6:38pm.
I just read The Jungle and I cried at the thought of a little one working the way this poor girl did. Her eyes are as close to crying without shedding a tear as I have ever seen.
I'm so thankful my daughter is able to play and be a child.
Byssinosis
Submitted by Zoreo on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 1:31am.
Many early textile mill workers developed byssinosis from breathing cotton dust thrown off by the machines. Probably especially bad for children.
Tough life
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 11:16am.
Spend your childhood working in a factory, then live through the depression and a war. I hope she lived long enough to see prosperity and grandchildren that didn't have to live the hard life she did.
What a life for one so young....
Submitted by shedra on Sun, 06/24/2007 - 7:39pm.
The pain in her eyes just haunts me... I don't imagine she ever got to be a child or play with dolls. So sad.
such a haunting face
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 9:07pm.
Thank God we never new that life....
She looks exactly like my niece.
Submitted by Kristy on Tue, 06/19/2007 - 6:45pm.
And this photo breaks my heart.
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Shorpy.com | History in HD is a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.
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Today's Top 5