Factories

October 1913. Dallas, Texas. "A few of the young workers in Hughes Brothers Candy Factory, South Ervay Street. I counted five going and coming at night and at noon, that appeared to be from 12 to 15 years old. One girl told me that she is 13 years old, 'but we have to tell them we're 15. I run a chocolate machine.' " Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.

Key West, Florida, circa 1900. "Packing cigars." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1900. "Illinois Steel Works, Joliet." Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

Appleton, Wisconsin, circa 1890s. "Girls of the paper mills." Evidently taking a water break. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size.

May 17, 1910. Alton, Illinois, "Noon hour. These boys are all working in the Illinois Glass Company. Smallest boy, Frank Dwyer, 1009½ E. Sixth Street, says he has been working here three months. Joe Dwyer (brother) has been working here over two years. Henry Maul, 513 Central Avenue. Frank Schenk, lives with uncle, 611 Central Avenue. Emil Ohley, 1012 E. Sixth Street. William Jarett, 825 E. Fifth Street. Fred Metz, 707 Bloomfield Street. In addition to their telling me they worked, I saw them beginning work just before 1 p.m. Photo at 12:30." Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.

September 1913. Denison, Texas. "Group outside Pittman Handle Factory. A 15-year-old boy operating a dangerous boring machine at which he said a boy recently bored half his hand off. To operate this machine (which bores a large hole in the spade handle) the boy has to throw his whole weight onto the lever which pushes the handle (and himself) up against the unprotected borer. A slip might easily result fatally. Boy earns $1.65 a day. This factory has a number of unprotected belts and dangerous machines. One other boy, about the age of this one, was doing all kinds of work, taking away the handles from a huge rip saw, etc., and constantly exposed to danger." Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.

January 1909. Augusta, Georgia. "Noon Hour. Workers in Enterprise Cotton Mill. The wheels are kept running through noon hour (which is only 40 minutes) so employees may be tempted to put in part of this time at machine if they wish." Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.