Archives for November 26, 2014

Irenee Laprise, Winchendon, Massachusetts

Lewis Hine caption: Erenne La Prise, a doffer, apparently 13 year[s] old, doffing at his machine in Spring Village Mill. Said he had been working a year and a half. Location: Winchendon, Massachusetts, September 1911. "He was fun to be with. He was jolly, and he was very … [Read more...]

Fannie Sweeney, Fayetteville, Tennessee

Lewis Hine caption: Little Fannie, 7 years old, 48 inches high, helps sister in Elk Mills. Her sister (in photo) said, "Yes, she he'ps me right smart. Not all day but all she can. Yes, she started with me at six this mornin'." These two belong to a family of 19 children. … [Read more...]

Merrick Family, Seaford, Delaware

Lewis Hine caption: Mother and children hulling strawberries at Johnson's Hulling Station. Cyral (in baby cart) is 2 yrs. old this May and works steadily hulling berries. At times Cyral would rest his little head on his arm and fall asleep for a few minutes and then wake up, … [Read more...]

Poems Inspired By North Adams, Massachusetts: Page One

Seven Steeples was written after a long walking tour of North Adams. Empty House was inspired by a vacant blue tenement house I saw in a rundown neighborhood. Elderly Housing was written while I was sitting across the street from a former Catholic School. Sprague's referred to in … [Read more...]

Willie Cheatham, Montgomery, Alabama

Lewis Hine caption: Willie Cheatham, Western Union messenger #1. Says he is 16 years now; been messenger for 6 years. Late Sunday night, October 4th, I talked with him, still on duty, until 10 P.M. "You bet I know every crooked house in town. Went to school with one of those … [Read more...]

Hail The Reluctant Hero (2003)

Larry Doby passed away in June at the age of 79. Casual baseball fans may not recognize the name. I met him at Williams College last year when he participated in a panel discussion about baseball. It was a thrill for me, because he was one of my heroes. Doby played most of his … [Read more...]

Idas Joseph Crepeau, North Adams, Massachusetts

Lewis Hine caption: Joseph Crapo, 47 Fruit St. Works in Eclipse Mills. Apparently 13 years old. Location: North Adams, Massachusetts, August 1911. When this handsome young man posed for Lewis Hine almost 100 years ago, neither he nor anyone else in this small factory city … [Read more...]

Joseph Allard, North Adams, Massachusetts

Lewis Hine caption: Joe Allard, 5 Tannery Yard (on left hand). Sweeper in twisting room, Eclipse Mills. Location: North Adams, Massachusetts, August 1911. "Every New Year's Eve, my father would take each one of us kids into a room alone, and we'd get down on our knees, and he … [Read more...]

Henry S. Higginbotham, Jefferson County, Alabama

Lewis Hine caption: Shorpy Higginbotham, a "greaser" on the tipple at Bessie Mine, of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Co. Said he was 14 years old, but it is doubtful. Carries two heavy pails of grease, and is often in danger of being run over by the coal cars. Location: … [Read more...]

Ralph Kuyrkendall, Magnolia, Mississippi

Lewis Hine caption: Ralph Kuyrkendall. "I'm learnin' to spin in Magnolia Cotton Mill. Work with Blanch ---. I'm 10 years old. Been in the First Grade three years and Second Grade one year." Location: Magnolia, Mississippi, May 1911. "I don't think my grandfather ever completed … [Read more...]

Ruby Nell Shepard, Sacramento, California

Dorothea Lange caption: Daughter of migrant Tennessee coal miner. Living in American River camp near Sacramento, California, November 1936. In 2008, I saw this sad, beautiful, empathetic Dorothea Lange picture of a young woman with no name. Lange seldom identified her … [Read more...]

John Slebzak, Pasadena, Maryland

Lewis Hine caption: John Slebzak. Location: (near) Baltimore, Maryland, July 1909. Lewis Hine caption: Slebzak family (Polish) working on Bot[t]omley farm, near Baltimore, Md. They have worked here 3 years and one winter at Avery Island, Louisiana. All work except the … [Read more...]

Robert Kidd, Alexandria, Virginia

Lewis Hine caption: "Carrying-in" boy in Alexandria Glass Factory, Alexandria, Va. Works on day shift one week and night shift next week. Location: Alexandria, Virginia, June 1911. I've seen this popular Hine photo many times, and every time I do, I can't stop staring at it. … [Read more...]

Laura Petty, Pasadena, Maryland

Lewis Hine caption: Laura Petty, a 6 year old berry picker on Jenkins farm, Rock Creek near Baltimore, Md. "I'm just beginnin'. Picked two boxes yesterday. (2 cents a box). July 8, 1909. Location: Baltimore, Maryland. (See my report July 10, 1909.) This photo is little Laura … [Read more...]

Josephat Adams, North Adams, Massachusetts

Lewis Hine caption: On right hand is Richard Fitzgerald, 53 Montgomery St., works in twisting room of Eclipse Mills, No. Adams. On left hand, Joseph Adams, 107 Front St., works in twisting room of Eclipse Mills,. Location: North Adams, Massachusetts, August 1911. "He always … [Read more...]

Ashby Corbin, Alexandria, Virginia

Lewis Hine caption: Two young carrying-in boys in Alexandria (Va.) Glass Factory. Frank Clark (on left) 702 N. Patrick St., could neither read nor write, having been to school only a few weeks in his life. Two older brothers work in glass factory, and his father is a candy maker. … [Read more...]

Marion & Mary Rose Deschenes, Winchendon, Massachusetts

Lewis Hine caption: Comparison of Ages: Left: Marion Deschere, just passed 13 years. Helps sister in mill "some." Next is Mildred Greenwood, "going on 14." Goes to school. Next is Mamie La Barge, 13 years, but said 14 years. Right end is Rosina Goyette, said 14, probably 12 or … [Read more...]

Lewis Hine

Lewis Wickes Hine, courtesy of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film. Lewis Wickes Hine was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on September 26, 1874, to Douglas Hull Hine and Sarah Hayes Hine. His father died in an accident in 1892, … [Read more...]

Children That Mattered: An essay about the Lewis Hine Project

My wife and I regularly attend the Sunday morning Children's Mass in our parish. During the homily, the priest invites the children to sit on the steps just below the altar, while he delivers a brief sermon prepared especially for them. During the Consecration, the most solemn … [Read more...]

Red Sox Poems

Leaving Pedro In was written immediately after the Boston Red Sox lost the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees in 2003. Goodbye Curse was written the morning after the Red Sox won the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in … [Read more...]