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Circa 1905. "Sorting cotton -- Atlantic Cotton Compress Co., Pensacola, Florida." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.
He's awfully comfy and well camouflaged!
I couldn't put my feelings about this one into words, until I read what Davidk had to say. The first thing I think of is all of the labor hours that amount of cotton represents; hours in the hot sun, bent over, getting the tips of their fingers made raw from the cotton thorn. This beautiful little girl had probably been working in cotton for several years, by this time. It makes you thankful, or if it doesn't, it should.
What are they sorting it into? Apparently there's some difference between one bit of cotton and the next, but what is it?
Thanks to Shorpy, them as sorts it are not forgotten.
I frequently embigulate a Shorpy image and leave in on my big monitor so that I can look at it many times and hope my wife and kids will see it too. Today I left on the picture of this little girl at work with the cotton along with the other women of all ages. It is so rich with American history and the lives of women. Plus there is an extraordinary amount of cotton. Thank you, Dave, for these mind-blowing images.
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