Lewis Hine's Child Labor Photos Led to First US Federal Law
In the early 20th century, Lewis Hine embarked on a campaign to capture the realities of child labor in America for the National Child Labor Committee, which had formed in 1904. At that time, approximately two million children under the age of 15 were employed full-time. Utilizing a Graflex camera, Hine infiltrated various work environments, sometimes masquerading as a Bible salesman. His compelling images, taken between 1909 and 1911, played a pivotal role in changing societal views. The first federal legislation addressing child labor emerged in 1916, leading to a nearly 50% decline in child workers by 1920.
Key facts
- Lewis Hine began documenting child labor in 1908 for the NCLC.
- Around two million children under 15 were full-time laborers in the US in 1908.
- Hine used a Graflex camera and sometimes posed as a Bible salesman.
- His photographs from 1909 to 1911 helped lead to the first federal child labor law in 1916.
- By 1920, the number of child laborers had nearly halved compared to 1910.
- The NCLC was established in 1904 and chartered by Congress in 1907.
- Early NCLC advocates included Jane Addams, Florence Kelley, and Owen Reed Lovejoy.
- The NCLC also contributed to the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- National Child Labor Committee
- Smithsonian magazine
- Library of Congress
Locations
- Georgia
- Wareham
- Massachusetts
- Chester
- South Carolina
- Fort Worth
- Texas
- Comanche County
- Oklahoma
- Jacksonville
- Florida
- Dunbar
- Louisiana
- Biloxi
- Mississippi
- Newberry
- United States