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Worker in Cotton Mill, Rhode Island, 1909

Object Details

Description
A Lewis Hine silver print from about 1906–1918, this image of a young boy working at a loom in a cotton mill in Rhode Island is one in a series of photographs made by Hine for the National Child Labor Committee. The photographs document child labor throughout America in the early 20th century. As a "sociological photographer" and one of the earliest practitioners of what has come to be known as photojournalism, Hine used his photography to raise public consciousness about the inhumane and dangerous working conditions to which children were being exposed every day. His work was instrumental in bringing about child labor laws and raising safety standards in the American workplace, a social movement that would secure the promise of childhood for future generations.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
maker
Hine, Lewis
Date made
ca 1906-1918
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 16.7 cm x 11.7 cm; 6 9/16 in x 4 5/8 in
Object Name
Photograph
photograph

Featured In

  • Explore America: Rhode Island
  • Labor Day
Worker in cotton mill, Rhode Island, 1909
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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