Lewis Hine caption: Three cutters in Factory #7, Seacoast Canning Co., Eastport, Me. They work regularly whenever there are fish. (Note the knives they use.) Back of them and under foot is refuse. On the right hand is Grayson Forsythe, 7 years old. Middle is George Goodell, 9 … [Read more...]
Cannery Workers, Eastport, Maine
Here are the children (and a few adults) whose descendants I have contacted, or about whom I have found significant information. Click on each photo to see an enlarged photo and the full captions. The caption directly under each enlarged photo is mine, based on what I have learned. Below that, you will see Hine’s own caption (in italics), as published by the Library of Congress or other sources. You will note many examples of where my research has resulted in name corrections, or in the discovery of names of persons only partially identified, or not identified at all by Hine. In most cases, I have posted full stories, which often include interviews with descendants and family photos of the children as adults. For others, I am still gathering information. These pages will be updated frequently.
James McCutcheon, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Fulsom McCutcheon, 11 years old, has been working at the covering machines in Eastport canning factory, also cutting some. In the background is a typical sardine factory. Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. When James Philson McCutcheon posed for Lewis … [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...]
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...]
Minnie Thomas, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Minnie Thomas, 9 years old, showing average size of sardine knife used in cutting. Some of the children used a knife as large as this. Minnie works regularly in Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #7, mostly in the packing room, and when very busy works nights. Cuts … [Read more...]
Anna J. Gallant, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Nan de Gallant, 4 Clark St., Eastport, Maine, 9 year old cartoner, Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #2. Packs some with her mother. Mother and two sisters work in factory. One sister has made $7 in one day. During the rush season, the women begin work at 7 a.m., … [Read more...]
Daniel Collins, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Three young cutters who work in the Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #4, Eastport, Me. They work at night when the rush is on. Youngest is Rob Collins, 10 years old; next is Dan Collins, 11 years; next is Milton Shannon. All live on South Clark Street. Location: … [Read more...]
Hiram Polk, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Hiram Pulk, 9 years old, cuts some in Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #1. "I ain't very fast--only about five boxes a day. They pay five cents a box." Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. Among the many thousands of child labor photographs taken by Lewis … [Read more...]
Richard Mills, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Richard Mills, 8 years old, showing a severely cut finger. Is a cutter in Eastport, Me., canneries. Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. "He couldn't read or write, and he only went as far as the third or fourth grade, but he was very smart and very … [Read more...]
Byron Hamilton, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: "I cut my finger nearly off, cutting sardines the other day." Seven year old Byron. Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. "He was extremely brilliant. If he had had money, he certainly would have gone to college. He liked to quote poetry and the … [Read more...]
George & Clarence Goodeill, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: George Goodell, and butcher knife used by many children. Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. "I think he (George) was devastated when his mother died. I remember him telling me that he had to quit school in fifth grade to feed his younger brothers and … [Read more...]
Phoebe Thomas, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Eight year old Syrian girl, Pheobe [i.e. Phoebe] Thomas, going to work at 6 a.m., August 14, with great butcher knife, to cut sardines in Seacoast Canning Co. Factory #4, Eastport Me. Said she was a cutter, and I saw her working later. (See photos of her … [Read more...]
Preston Knowlton, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Five year old Preston, a young cartoner in Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #2. I saw him at work different times during the day--at 7 a.m., in the afternoon, and at 6 p.m., and he kept at it very faithfully for so young a worker. Location: Eastport, … [Read more...]
Allen Chaffey & Walter Omar, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption: Allen Chaffey, 9 years old, 37 Clark St., Eastport, Me., helps mother pack in Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #1. Walter Omar, 8 years old, 4 Clark Street, cuts. Location: Eastport, Maine, August 1911. "Allen was pretty middle class all his life. He was very … [Read more...]
Elsie Shaw, Eastport, Maine
Lewis Hine caption (both photos): Elsie Shaw, a 6 year old cartoner in the summer, Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #2. Her father is boss of cutting room in Factory #1. He asked me to take some photos of her, as he has her do a singing act in vaudeville in the winter, "and she's … [Read more...]