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...]

Jeremiah Moore, Manchester, New Hampshire

Lewis Hine caption: Boys working in Amoskeag Mills, Manchester, N.H. Smallest boy is Napoleon Cammery, 194 Merrimac St. Been in mill 1 year. Next boy is Jerry Moore, 352 Chestnut St. Martin Markey, 33 State St. Location: Manchester, New Hampshire, May 1909. This is the second … [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...]

Mildred Griffith, Eastport, Maine

Lewis Hine caption: Mildred Griffiths, 9 Pleasant St., 13 yrs. old. A regular packer in Blanchard's Sardine Factory. Makes $1.00 to $2.00 a day. Sometimes works until midnight. Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. "My dad had one picture of her as an adult, but it was … [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...]

The Iceless Refrigerator

The iceless refrigerator, which is the very latest refinement of the electrical industry, threatens to dethrone the ice man so effectually that it may be but a short time before his shining morning face will no longer be seen at the back door. The iceless refrigerator has been … [Read more...]

Wilford Clark, Eastport, Maine

Lewis Hine caption: Wilfred Clark, 10 years old, 24 Key St., going home at noon, after cutting five boxes of fish during the morning. Incidentally, he cuts his fingers. See left fore-finger. Two other boys with him had fingers badly cut and healed up. Location: Eastport, Maine. … [Read more...]

Gus & Julius Hodges, Norfolk, Virginia

Lewis Hine caption: "Teaching the young idea How to Sell." Gus Hodges, age 11, instructing his brother Julius, age 5. I found Gus selling as late as 9:00 P.M., and he said that he had made over one dollar a day. Julius and another brother, 9 years old, had made 25 cents that day. … [Read more...]