These photos ended child labor in the US

Summary

The video highlights the work of Lewis Hine, a photographer hired by the National Child Labor Committee in 1908 to document child labor in the United States. Through his poignant images, such as those of Sadie Pfeifer in a South Carolina cotton mill, Hine exposed the harsh realities faced by working children, which eventually led to social reforms. His technique of using shallow depth of field and framing from the children's perspective humanized their plight and shifted public perception. Hine's work significantly contributed to the introduction of laws regulating child labor.

Takeaways

• 👧 Sadie Pfeifer was 9 years old when she was photographed operating heavy machinery in a cotton mill in Lancaster, South Carolina, in 1908.
• 🏭 Many children worked in mills, fields, factories, and mines across the United States, with a significant child labor problem revealed by the 1900 federal census.
• 📸 Lewis Hine, hired by the National Child Labor Committee in 1908, used photography as a tool for social reform, documenting the harsh realities of child labor.
• 📝 Hine's photographs, combined with detailed captions, helped humanize child laborers and raise public awareness, leading to regulatory changes.
• 🗞️ Hine's photos were often framed similarly to show the widespread nature of the child labor issue, and his technique included a shallow depth of field to emphasize the workers over the machinery.
• 🔍 Hine's photographic technique involved a narrow point of focus and shooting from a lower angle to capture the children's perspective and emphasize their humanity.
• 📚 Hine's work significantly contributed to changing public perception and eventually led to laws regulating child labor and promoting education for children.
• 🛠️ Hine continued to use his dignifying photographic techniques in other projects, including documenting the construction of the Empire State Building.
• 🌟 Hine was a pioneer in using photography for social documentary, understanding the power of images to tell impactful stories.
• 📢 The script encourages viewers to leave comments with photo suggestions for future seasons and promotes CuriosityStream for more historical photography content.

Q & A

Who was Sadie Pfeifer and what was her role in the photo taken in 1908?

Sadie Pfeifer was a 9-year-old girl operating heavy machinery in a cotton mill in Lancaster, South Carolina, in 1908. She was one of many children working in mills, fields, factories, and mines at that time.

What common factor did the children working in various industries across the United States share?

The common factor was that they all met Lewis Hine, a photographer hired to document and report on child labor in the United States.

What did the 1900 federal census reveal about child labor in the United States?

The 1900 federal census revealed that 1.75 million children under the age of 16 were working, which was more than one in five children at the time.

Why were children from poor families targeted for jobs during the Industrial Revolution?

Children from poor families were targeted because they would work for very low wages and were less likely to strike compared to adults.

What role did Lewis Hine play in addressing the child labor problem in the United States?

Lewis Hine was hired by the National Child Labor Committee to investigate and report on industries employing children. His photographs and reports helped to humanize the lives of child laborers and ultimately led to public pressure for legislative changes.

What was the significance of Hine's 'Social photography: how the camera may help' speech in 1909?

In his 1909 speech, Hine emphasized the potential power of photography as a tool for social reform, suggesting that photographs could be used to bring light to social issues and drive change.

What were some of the industries and locations Hine visited to document child labor?

Hine visited coal mines in Pennsylvania, sardine cutters in Maine, oyster shuckers in Louisiana, tobacco pickers in Kentucky, cranberry pickers in Massachusetts, beet farms in Colorado, and young messengers and newsboys in cities across the country.

How did Hine ensure the authenticity of his photos and the stories of the child laborers?

Each of Hine's photos included a detailed caption written by him, often containing information about the child's wages, work conditions, and personal stories, sometimes including their injuries.

What photographic techniques did Hine use to humanize his subjects in his photos?

Hine used a shallow depth of field to focus on the children while blurring the machinery or workplace behind them. He also shot from a lower angle to capture the children at their eye level, making the images feel more personal and humanizing.

What impact did Hine's photographs have on public perception and legislation regarding child labor?

Hine's photographs changed public perception of child labor by humanizing the children and their harsh working conditions, ultimately leading to pressure on state legislatures to introduce laws regulating work for those under the age of 18 and sending kids back to school.

How did Lewis Hine's work influence the use of photography in social documentary?

Lewis Hine was one of the first to use a camera as a tool for social documentary. His work demonstrated the power of images to tell stories and influence social reform, setting a precedent for future documentary photographers.