Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
- Curious Cat
- The Modern Executive
- Died on the operating table
- You've seen his work
- Fish swimming free from their barrel
- Great picture
- Only one or two things missing
- Griffith Stadium
- Douglas SBD Dauntless
- ???
- (Almost) Still Around
- Just NE of the Schuylkill
- True Grif
- The future lies overhead
- Huff & Puff
- To smithereens
- See the book of Hosea
- The house survives
- Loammi
- Drinks for everyone, just don't lose your head
- College Ices?
- What The?
- Hellgamite
- Signs
- Everything you ever wanted to know about the Hotel Weirs
- Mr. Bean
- Edison
- Moxie
- I'm absolutely in love with Kat Mullin!
- A Not So Uncommon Fate
Photos submitted by Shorpy members!
Printporium
I'm De Whole Show: 1913
Waco, Texas. November 1913. Isaac Boyett: "I'm de whole show." The twelve-year-old proprietor, manager and messenger of the Club Messenger Service, 402 Austin Street. The photo shows him in the heart of the Red Light district where he was delivering messages as he does several times a day. Said he knows the houses and some of the inmates. Has been doing this for one year, working until 9:30 P.M. Saturdays. Not so late on other nights. Makes from six to ten dollars a week. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. (Shorpynote: Isaac was born March 20, 1901, and died in May 1966 in Waco.)
Messenger Boy in Waco, Texas
This is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. I interviewed one of Isaac's daughters. I now have his interesting, but brief story on my website.
http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2015/01/01/isaac-boyett/
I'm going to start playing a
I'm going to start playing a Shorpy drinking game and down a shot any time somebody grumbles about "kids today." Assuming my liver is up to it.
Reply to LC2
You're right...now 12 year olds deliver crack cocaine instead of messages.
Ah, yes...
The "good" old days. As bad as some things are now, at least we have very few 12 year olds spending all their time running messages for ladies of loose morals to their johns.
1913 = today?
Ok, how does a 1913 photo demonstrate child abuse "today"?
As far as child labor goes, I'd say riding a bicycle around and delivering six messages a day is WAY better than some of the coal mining and factory situations we've seen here.
And I bet half the reason he's grimacing is that he's facing into the sun.
Tragic
This photo illustrates the failure of capitailism and the abuse of children that continues today in the USA. This child should be at home, playing and enjoying childhood while he can.
[Dumb comment of the day (so far). - Dave]
Bicycle Lamps
Peter Card has a richly detailed web site on early bicycle lamps. See the page, especially, on oil (kerosene) lamps, which I think is the type Master Boyett is sporting on his handlebars in this Hines photo.
Agree: this young lad does have world-weary, seen-it-all eyes.
Denny Gill
Chugiak, Alaska
[That really is a great Web site. Thanks for the link! - Dave]
Isaac
Good to know that lamp was non-explosive ...
I love the look on this boy's face, and his world-weary eyes.
Re: Re: Bike Light
It looks like one of the kerosene lamps below. Esp. the "Jim Dandy."
Re: Bike Light
Are you sure of it being a kerosene lamp? Looks like a carbide light like miners used to me.
Bike Light
Probably not many bicycles today have kerosene lanterns on the handlebars. Fascinating.
Not too bad - but
I would bet that this kid gave the money to his mom, who probably had 6 or 7 kids to feed.
Not too bad
Eight dollars per week in 1913 is the equivalent of about $160 today. About $8500 per year. Not bad for a 12-year-old.
Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2025 Shorpy Inc.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5