Notes on Lecture: Lewis Hine and Child Labor Activism

Introduction

• Presenter: Starla Cole
• Topic: The life and work of Lewis Hine, focusing on his role as an artist and activist against child labor.

Lewis Hine's Work

• Time Period: 1908 to 1924
• Role: Photographer for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC)
• Impact: Documented the horrors of child labor, leading to social awareness and legal reforms.

Industrial Revolution and Child Labor

• Era of growth with capitalist ideals, but also exploitation of children.
• Workforce Needs: Child labor was used to meet mass production needs.

National Child Labor Committee

• Founded: 1904
• Mission: Promote rights, awareness, and well-being of children.
• Statistics: Published alarming data on child labor injuries and fatalities.

Lewis Hine's Photography

• Objective: Investigate and expose child labor practices.
• Challenges: Gaining access to workplaces; Hine posed in various roles to gain entry.
• Notable Work: Photographed mills in Lancaster, South Carolina.
  • Children’s Roles: Doffers who faced physical risks.
• Style: Combined emotion and information, showing children with machines.
• Techniques: Eye contact in photos to engage viewers.

Child Labor in Mines

• Children worked as breakers, removing slate from coal.
• Hazards: Frequent injuries and fatalities in operations.
• Report: Documented incidents such as smothering deaths in coal chutes.

Legislative Impact

• Keating Owen Act of 1916: Attempted to regulate child labor by controlling interstate commerce.
• Repeal: Repealed after two years due to unconstitutionality.
• Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938: Set serious labor standards, reducing child labor.
• Keating Owen Act Reinstated: 1941, after Supreme Court reverses ruling.

Legacy and Influence

• Influence on Photography: Inspired social documentary photography.
• FSA Project: Repeatedly denied to join, but continued impactful work.
• Comparison: Influenced contemporaries like Dorothea Lange.

Modern Influence

• Photographers like Benjamin Loy: Continue Hine’s legacy, addressing labor issues in contemporary contexts.

Conclusion

• Lewis Hine Project: Tracks descendants of Hine’s subjects, showing his impact on real lives.
• Legacy: Recognized as an artist and activist who significantly contributed to ending the exploitation of child labor in America.