Child labor in America in the early 20th century

Now it is difficult to imagine the exploitation of child labor in American industries, and at the beginning of the last century, the laboring hands of minors were used everywhere in the United States. In these 100-year-old images, you can see impoverished immigrant kids working hard from dawn to dusk to help their parents feed large families and bring the American Dream a little closer.

(Total 18 photos)

Source: Journal/aloban75

1. Ms. Bizi and her family (Poles). All of them have been working in the fields near Baltimore during the summer and winter in Biloxi, Mississippi, for two years now. Baltimore, Maryland. July 1909

2. Some of the employees of a packaging company in Maryland. Lots of work even for small hands. Many of them carry heavy boxes, full grains, etc. Baltimore, Maryland. July 1909

3. Working room of the packaging company. Lots of little workers. Baltimore, Maryland. July 1909

4. The Slibzak family (Poles), work on the Bottomley farm, near Baltimore, Maryland. They have been working here in the summer for the third year, and in the winter on Avery Island, Louisiana. Everyone works, except for the smallest ones. They start around 4 am and work until sunset. July 1909

5. A group of children in the workshop of a packaging company, Baltimore, Maryland. July 1909

6. Laura Petty, 6-year-old berry picker at Jenkins Farm, Rock Creek near Baltimore, Maryland. “I'm just getting started. Picked up two boxes yesterday. (2 cents per box). Baltimore, Maryland. July 8, 1909.

7. Victoria Borsa, 4 years old, berry picker. Brother is 7 years old. While the photographer was taking pictures of them, the mother impatiently urged them to "collect, collect." Browns Mill, New Jersey. September 1910

8. The Arnao family. The whole family works. Joe 3 years old. The boy is 6 years old, the girl is 9 years old. We found this family working on the Hitchens' farm, Cannon, Delaware, May 28, 1910. Mother said they've been here for 15 or 20 days. Browns Mill, New Jersey. September 28, 1910.

9. Little Rosie. Collects cranberries. She's been here for over two weeks. Browns Mill, New Jersey. September 28, 1910.

10. Mike Peokey. Doesn't know his age. Mother said he was 9 years old. They've been here for over two weeks. Browns Mill, New Jersey. September 28, 1910.

11. In front of the shack at noon. In the group of boys: 2 four-year-olds, 1 five-year-old, 1 six-year-old, 1 ten-year-old, 1 eleven-year-old, 1 twelve-year-old. In the group of girls: 2 five-year-old, 1 six-year-old, 2 nine-year-old, 1 ten-year-old, 1 twelve-year-old girl. They have been here for a month and will stay for another two weeks. Browns Mill, New Jersey. September 1910.

12. Rosa Baiodo, 10 years old. He has been working here for the 3rd summer. I've been here for a month and will stay for another 2 weeks. White Marshes, Browns Mill, New Jersey. September 28, 1910.

13. Richard Tevor, 8 years old. 5 years collecting cranberries. He has been here for four weeks and will stay for another two. Pemberton, New Jersey, September 27, 1910.

14. Nick Cecchini, 10, has been a laborer for three years, and Joe Cecchini, 12, has been a laborer for five years. Near Pemberton, New Jersey. This is the fourth week that he has been working here and there are two more to come. September 1910.

15. A group of children puts what they have collected into a Bushel. We measured one of these boxes and found that it holds 10 liters instead of 8. The kids are here for the fourth week, they will stay for another two weeks. Turkietown near Pemberton, New Jersey. September 1910.

16. Jenny Camillo has been picking cranberries this summer for eight years in the swamps of Turkietown, near Pemberton, New Jersey. It has been working for a month and will stay here for another two weeks. September 27, 1910

17 Bertha Marshall, berry picker at Jenkins Farm, Rock Creek, near Baltimore, Maryland. Working here for the second year. Collects about 10 boxes a day. (2 cents per box). July 7, 1909

18. Johnny Yellow, a young Pole picking berries on the Bottomley farm, Rock Creek, near Baltimore, Maryland. Says he's 10 years old and previously worked in Biloxi, Mississippi, winter and summer here for three years. He is very emaciated. Many of these children are stunted. July 1909