Lewis Hine was an early 20th century photographer who brought to light the plight of child labor in America. He photographed newsboys in big cities, mill workers out West, and farm laborers in the South and Midwest. The following 10 photos capture the lives of young cotton pickers in Texas and Oklahoma from 1913-1916
Millie, four years old and Nellie five years old. Cotton pickers on a farm near Houston, Millie picks eight pounds a day and Nellie thirty pounds. This is nearly every day. Home conditions bare and bad. Location: Houston vicinity, Texas.
Millie. Four year old cotton picker on farm near Houston. Picks about eight pounds a day, regularly.Location: Houston vicinity, Texas.
Alton. See preceding labels e.g.,. Location: Bells, Texas.
Two families working together on Kimball farm, near Waxahachie. The four year old picks nine pounds a day regularly and the eleven year old picks three hundred pounds a day. Location: Waxahachie vicinity, Texas.
Callie Campbell, 11 years old, picks 75 to 125 pounds of cotton a day, and totes 50 pounds of it when sack gets full. "No, I don't like it very much." Location: Potawotamie County, Oklahoma.
Callie Campbell, 11 years old, picks 75 to 125 pounds of cotton a day, and totes 50 pounds of it when sack gets full. "No, I don't like it very much." Lewis W. Hine. Location: Potawotamie County, Oklahoma
Millie. Four year old cotton picker on farm near Houston. Picks about wight i.e., eight pounds a day, regularly. Location: Houston vicinity, Texas.
Fred Hill, 3 years old, sometimes picks 20 pounds of cotton a day. Location: Comanche County, Oklahoma
Vera Hill, 5 years old picks 25 pounds a day. Location: Comanche County, Oklahoma
5-year old Harold Walker. Location: Comanche County--[Geronimo], Oklahoma / Lewis W. Hine.
