This album was created by a member of the TPS Teachers Network, a professional social media network for educators, funded by a grant from the Library of Congress. For more information, visit tpsteachersnetwork.org.

Child Labor in Rhode Island

Album Description

This album contains a collection of images taken by photographer Lewis Hine during his investigative work with the National Child Labor Committee between 1908 and 1924.  The author of this album works for the Rhode Island Historical Society and has focused on Hine's images from Rhode Island for to use in an activity plan for grades 3 to 12.

In addition to the Hine photographs there are samples of other sources being used to advocate for child labor laws in this period such as a poem and political cartoon.  The included activity plan walks you through an example for how to utilize these sources together for classroom study.  

Child labor and Industry in Rhode Island during the Industrial Revolution.    3 - 5   6 - 8   9 - 12   Social Studies/History   Rhode Island   Industrial Revolution   Mills   Child labor   Lesson plan 

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) Sewing class in Sprague House Settlement Providence, R.I. The Director is holding a newly-arrived deserted baby. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677352/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Children
-  Abandoned children
-  Women
-  Classrooms
-  Sewing
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3174.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04795 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04795
cph 3b06722 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b06722

TPS Activity Plan - Child Labor in RI.docx

Teaching Notes

This activity plan was created for the TPS Professional Development Providers Institute course in spring 2022 and can be adapted for classroom use.

Download File

[Printed page of text with photo illustration: "Declaration of Dependence by the Children of America in Mines and Factories and Workshops Assembled"].

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/nclc.04892/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: [1913?]
Subject Headings: -  Resolutions
-  Child labor
-  United States
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3540.
-  Caption card is blank. Date estimated on basis of captions for photos with neighboring numbers.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04892 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04892

[Printed page of text: "What Some Children Have Done to Help the Children Who Work."]

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677148/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: [1913?]
Subject Headings: -  Fund raising
-  Charity
-  Child labor
-  United States
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3541.
-  Caption card is blank. Date estimated on basis of captions for photos with neighboring numbers.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04893 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04893

[Printed page of text: "Hymn for the Working Children" by Fanny J. Crosby.]

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/nclc.04889/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: [1913?]
Subject Headings: -  Songs
-  Child labor
-  United States
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3537.
-  Caption card is blank. Date estimated on basis of captions for photos with neighboring numbers.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04889 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04889

[Woman, labeled "The state" leading children away from a factory and toward school] / Carl Meyer

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677691/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Meyer, Carl.
Created / Published: [1914?]
Subject Headings: -  Cartoons (Commentary)
-  Child labor
-  United States
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title devised by Library staff.
-  Caption from NCLC caption card: Cartoon.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3779.
-  No location or date recorded on caption card; date estimate based on captions for photographs with neighboring numbers.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04956 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04956

Map / L.W. Hine.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/nclc.04986/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: [1914?]
Subject Headings: -  Exhibitions
-  Child labor
-  United States
Genre: Photographic prints
Glass negatives
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3892.
-  No location or date recorded on caption card. Date estimate based on cards for photographs with neighboring numbers.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04986 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04986
nclc 05568 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.05568

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) 1:00 A.M. Sunday, Nov. 24, 1912, and still selling. Stanley Steiner, the boot-black and newsboy, is ten years old, and sells until 1 A.M. Lives, 92 Ulmsbec [?] Ave., Providence, R.I. The other, Jacob Botvin, is 13 years old, 33 Hilton St. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677382/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November 24.
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Newspaper vendors
-  Shoe shiners
-  Night work
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Street trades.
-  Hine no. 3210.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 03811 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.03811
cph 3a38910 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a38910

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-12.) Girls, six, nine, and eleven years old, working on chain-bags, Mrs. Antonio Caruso, 132 Knight St., Providence, R.I. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677350/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Girls
-  Child laborers
-  Metalworking
-  Handbags
-  Home labor
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Glass negatives
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Tenement homework.
-  Hine no. 3172.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04297 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04297
nclc 05507 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.05507
cph 3b24281 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b24281

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) Setting stones in cheap jewelry, Ernest Lonardo, 11 years old, Thomas, 14 years old, 6 Hewitt Street, Providence, R.I. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677351/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Child laborers
-  Jewelry making
-  Home labor
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Tenement homework.
-  Hine no. 3173.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04298 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04298

[One of the young spinners in the Quidwick Co. Mill. Anthony, R. I. (A Polish boy Willie) who was taking his noon rest in a doffer-box.] Location: Anthony, Rhode Island.

Teaching Notes

May need to add definitions such as "doffer"

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018674482/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1909 April.
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Textile mill workers
-  Polish Americans
-  Rest periods
-  Textile machinery
-  United States--Rhode Island--Anthony
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Mills.
-  Title from NCLC caption card for Hine no. 668.
-  Hine no. 669.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 01659 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.01659
cph 3a20284 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a20284

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) View of warping room, Lonsdale, R.I. Mills. Location: Lonsdale, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677335/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Girls
-  Textile mill workers
-  Textile machinery
-  United States--Rhode Island--Lonsdale
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Mills.
-  Hine no. 3154.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 02701 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.02701

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) Elvira Christofano, 110 Spruce [?] St., Providence, making chain-bags. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677354/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Girls
-  Child laborers
-  Metalworking
-  Handbags
-  Home labor
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Tenement homework.
-  Hine no. 3176.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04299 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04299

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) "Speed", one of the young W.U. Messengers. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677347/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Messengers
-  Telegraph industry
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Street trades.
-  Hine no. 3169.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 03805 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.03805

Girl at the drawing-in-frame of the weave-room, Lorraine Mills, Pawtucket, R.I. Location: Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677405/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 December.
Subject Headings: -  Textile mill workers
-  Girls
-  Textile machinery
-  United States--Rhode Island--Pawtucket
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Mills.
-  Hine no. 3232.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 02733 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.02733

(For Child Welfare Exhibit 1912-13.) Jimmie Rudgeway, 8 year old newsie, Providence. Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677377/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Newspaper vendors
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Street trades.
-  Hine no. 3205.
-  No text recorded on caption card after final comma.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 03807 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.03807

Irene Cohen, ten-year-old Newsgirl, Provience, R.I. (For Child Welfare Exhibit - 1912-13.) Location: Providence, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677340/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Girls
-  Newspaper vendors
-  United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Street trades.
-  Hine no. 3162.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 03800 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.03800

All are working in Natick (R. I.) Mills. April 17, 1909. Location: Natick, Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018674417/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1909 April 17.
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Textile mill workers
-  United States--Rhode Island--Natick
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Mills.
-  Hine no. 688.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 01678 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.01678

[Workers in Lorraine Mfg. Co. Location: Westerly, Rhode Island]

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018675283/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: [1909 June 9]
Subject Headings: -  Boys
-  Men
-  Textile mill workers
-  Mills
-  United States--Rhode Island--Westerly
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title and date based on information from NCLC caption card for Hine no. 0820.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Mills.
-  Hine no. 819-A.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 01817 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.01817

A dump in Rhode Island. Location: Rhode Island.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2018677415/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Created / Published: 1912 November.
Subject Headings: -  Children
-  Refuse disposal
-  United States--Rhode Island
Genre: Photographic prints
Notes: -  Title from NCLC caption card.
-  Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
-  In album: Miscellaneous.
-  Hine no. 3244.
-  No Rhode Island location recorded on caption card.
-  Credit line: National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  General information about the National Child Labor Committee collection is available at: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
-  Forms part of: National Child Labor Committee collection.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: nclc 04810 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04810
cph 3b05310 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b05310