Colorized Photos of Child Laborers Bring Struggles of the Past to Life
Colorized Photos of Child Laborers Bring Struggles of the Past to Life
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Sadie Pfeifer, 48 inches high, has worked half a year. One of the many small children at work in Lancaster Cotton Mills. Nov. 1908. Lancaster, South Carolina.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of Congress
Lewis Hine was one of the first photographers to use photography as a tool to document social conditions, particularly those which he believed “had to be corrected.” Chief among these was the practice of child labor, especially in the Carolina Piedmont, where Hine hoped his images would help bring an end to the unsafe conditions to which children were subjected.
In nearly a decade serving as the photographer for the National Child Labor Committee, beginning in 1908, Hine shed light on the ways in which putting children to work compromised their ability to be children, and in some cases, to stay alive.
Though child labor in America was significantly reduced by laws passed during the Great Depression, recent studies show that as many as half a million children still work in agriculture across America, and several states have rolled back restrictions on child labor in recent years.
TIME commissioned freelance photo editor Sanna Dullaway to colorize several of Hine’s most iconic photographs.
Sanna Dullaway is a photo editor based in Sweden and the host of a new monthly column on TIME LightBox on colorized photography. See more of her work here.
Noon hour in the Ewen Breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Co. Jan. 1911. South Pittston, Pennsylvania. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressNoon hour in the Ewen Breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Co. Jan. 1911. South Pittston, Pennsylvania. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressYoung doffer and spinner boys in Seaconnet Mill. The youngest are Manuel Perry, 111 Pitman St. John E. Mello, 229 Alden St. Manuel Louis. None of these could write their own names. The last couldn't spell the street he lives on. They spoke almost no English. Jan. 1912. Fall River, Massachusetts.Lewis Hine—Library of CongressYoung doffer and spinner boys in Seaconnet Mill. The youngest are Manuel Perry, 111 Pitman St. John E. Mello, 229 Alden St. Manuel Louis. None of these could write their own names. The last couldn't spell the street he lives on. They spoke almost no English. Jan. 1912. Fall River, Massachusetts.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressSadie Pfeifer, 48 inches high, has worked half a year. One of the many small children at work in Lancaster Cotton Mills. Nov. 1908. Lancaster, South Carolina. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressSadie Pfeifer, 48 inches high, has worked half a year. One of the many small children at work in Lancaster Cotton Mills. Nov. 1908. Lancaster, South Carolina. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressJewel and Harold Walker, 6 and 5 years old, pick 20 to 25 pounds of cotton a day. Father said: "I promised em a little wagon if they'd pick steady, and now they have half a bagful in just a little while." Oct. 1916. Comanche County [Geronimo], Oklahoma. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressJewel and Harold Walker, 6 and 5 years old, pick 20 to 25 pounds of cotton a day. Father said: "I promised em a little wagon if they'd pick steady, and now they have half a bagful in just a little while." Oct. 1916. Comanche County [Geronimo], Oklahoma. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressLittle Julia tending the baby at home. All the older ones are at the factory. She shucks also. Alabama Canning Co.,. Feb. 1911. Bayou La Batre, Alabama.Lewis Hine—Library of CongressLittle Julia tending the baby at home. All the older ones are at the factory. She shucks also. Alabama Canning Co.,. Feb. 1911. Bayou La Batre, Alabama.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressColored School at Anthoston. Census 27, enrollment 12, attendance 7. Teacher expects 19 to be enrolled after work is over. "Tobacco keeps them out and they are short of hands." Sept. 1916. Henderson County, Kentucky. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressColored School at Anthoston. Census 27, enrollment 12, attendance 7. Teacher expects 19 to be enrolled after work is over. "Tobacco keeps them out and they are short of hands." Sept. 1916. Henderson County, Kentucky. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressLunch Time, Economy Glass Works, Morgantown, W. Va. Plenty more like this, inside. Oct. 1908. Morgantown, West Virginia. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressLunch Time, Economy Glass Works, Morgantown, W. Va. Plenty more like this, inside. Oct. 1908. Morgantown, West Virginia. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressBibb Mill No. 1 Many youngsters here. Some boys were so small they had to climb up on the spinning frame to mend the broken threads and put back the empty bobbins. Jan. 1909. Macon, Georgia. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressBibb Mill No. 1 Many youngsters here. Some boys were so small they had to climb up on the spinning frame to mend the broken threads and put back the empty bobbins. Jan. 1909. Macon, Georgia. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressLittle 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. Nov. 1910. Fayetteville, Tennessee.Lewis Hine—Library of CongressLittle 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. Nov. 1910. Fayetteville, Tennessee.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressOne of the small boys in J. S. Farrand P[ac]king Co. and a heavy load. J. W. Magruder, witness. July 1909. Baltimore, Maryland. Lewis Hine—Library of CongressOne of the small boys in J. S. Farrand P[ac]king Co. and a heavy load. J. W. Magruder, witness. July 1909. Baltimore, Maryland. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressPin boys in Les Miserables Alleys, Frank Jarose, 7 Fayette St., Mellens Court, said 11 years old, made $3.72 last week. Joseph Philip, 5 Wall St., said 11 years old, and works until midnight every week night; said he made $2.25 last week and $1.75 the week before. Willie Payton, 196 Fayette St., said 11 years old, made over $2 last week, works there every night until midnight. Oct. 1911. Lowell, Massachusetts.Lewis Hine—Library of CongressPin boys in Les Miserables Alleys, Frank Jarose, 7 Fayette St., Mellens Court, said 11 years old, made $3.72 last week. Joseph Philip, 5 Wall St., said 11 years old, and works until midnight every week night; said he made $2.25 last week and $1.75 the week before. Willie Payton, 196 Fayette St., said 11 years old, made over $2 last week, works there every night until midnight. Oct. 1911. Lowell, Massachusetts.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of Congress11:00 A. M . Monday, May 9th, 1910. Newsies at Skeeter's Branch, Jefferson near Franklin. They were all smoking. May 1910. St. Louis, Missouri.Lewis Hine—Library of Congress11:00 A. M . Monday, May 9th, 1910. Newsies at Skeeter's Branch, Jefferson near Franklin. They were all smoking. May 1910. St. Louis, Missouri.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressCase of Frank Wiegel, Brooklyn N.Y., injured after working 18 hours a day. He was injured at 1:55 A.M. January 18, 1914. Age 15 years. Employed by the Henry Bosch Paper Co., makers of wallpaper sample books. On Saturday, or rather Sunday morning at 1:55, Frank must have fallen asleep and in some way he knocked against the controlling pedal, and the next thing he knew his hand was caught in the machine. He sued the Co. for damages and after 2 years' litigation he received an award of $10,000 - $5,000 for each of 2 fingers which were amputated. The lawyer's fee has not yet been decided upon by the court. Jan. 1916. Brooklyn, New York.Lewis Hine—Library of CongressCase of Frank Wiegel, Brooklyn N.Y., injured after working 18 hours a day. He was injured at 1:55 A.M. January 18, 1914. Age 15 years. Employed by the Henry Bosch Paper Co., makers of wallpaper sample books. On Saturday, or rather Sunday morning at 1:55, Frank must have fallen asleep and in some way he knocked against the controlling pedal, and the next thing he knew his hand was caught in the machine. He sued the Co. for damages and after 2 years' litigation he received an award of $10,000 - $5,000 for each of 2 fingers which were amputated. The lawyer's fee has not yet been decided upon by the court. Jan. 1916. Brooklyn, New York.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of CongressGroup of Breaker Boys in #9 Breaker, Hughestown Borough, Pennsylvania Coal Co. Smallest boy is Angelo Ross. Jan. 1911. Pittston, Pennsylvania.Lewis Hine—Library of CongressGroup of Breaker Boys in #9 Breaker, Hughestown Borough, Pennsylvania Coal Co. Smallest boy is Angelo Ross. Jan. 1911. Pittston, Pennsylvania.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME / original image: Library of Congress
