Comments on: The Lewis Hine Project

By: Robert Cunningham

Robert Cunningham — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:21:05 +0000

On January 17, 2008, Shelby asked that someone make a movie about this era. Well, I have no control over that, but folk singer Janet Bates has recorded a poignant and beautiful song about Addie Card, entitled “The Little Spinner.” A CD containing this song about Annie Card will be released in December of 2008. A partial version of the song will appear on YouTube momentarily. Google: Janet Bates little spinner addie card. You can hear more of Janet Bates music at:
http://www.janetbates.com/janet-bates-bio.html
Thank you for your interest.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:17:53 +0000

As a consumer, we have more power than any government to stop child labor – just insist that products are made in factories that don’t employ child labor/have humane working conditions/pay living wages, etc.

Oh, wait (checks cheap Wal-Mart shoes). Dammit, made in China … never mind!!!

By: louisa

louisa — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:45:31 +0000

Thank you for posting this. Truly fascinating and heartbreaking. This is our history which no one wants to remember. Those of us who are old enough had grandparents and great grandparents who had to do the same things to survive.
Today we can’t get off our fat butts except to go to Walmart or Taco Bell wearing clothes and shoes made by children in Asia who are the same age as the kids in the photos as Sid mentioned.
Something is really wrong with this world.
I know I’m preaching to the choir. Just needed to rant.

By: Sid Morrison

Sid Morrison — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:42:42 +0000

There are a bunch of wonderful Hine images on shorpy.com as well.

It’s fine to all pat ourselves on the back about how wonderful the world is without child labor, but remember, child labor is alive and well outside the Western world. There is a reason that the shoes we where are so inexpensive… Kids are still doing all the things they did in Hine photos (same ages and working conditions as well) only now it is in Red China, Vietnam, Honduras, Africa and a host of other places. The only difference is that the US factories where this used to take place have long been shuttered and we just import the same stuff.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:44:14 +0000

I crisscrossed the Berkshires and VT region several times and really could see, touch, feel this neat story.

Amazing how a single photo lauched this modest woman into eternal remembrance.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:37:34 +0000

As a love of geneology this was one of the most fascinating stories I’ve read. Thank you for posting this…very interesting in a sad kind of way.

By: Shelby

Shelby — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:17:43 +0000

Will someone please make a movie about this era?! Ken Burns, where are you?

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:14:03 +0000

Very interesting read, but kinda creepy also.

By: jodie

jodie — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:59:01 +0000

thank you for posting this. sad, fascinating and unbelievable. those poor kids and yet many of them are still smiling. they were certainly made out of different stuff back then.