Burlington, Vt., Dec. 17, 1916

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Lewis Hine, considered by many to be the father of modern social documentary photography, spent more than a decade as the official photographer for the National Child Labor Committee. Between 1908 and 1921, Hine photographed rural and urban child laborers across the country. The resulting images were used in NCLC pamphlets, exhibits, and magazine advertisements, and helped to transform the nation’s attitudes and policies on child labor and welfare. Many of Hine’s photographs, such as this one, feature newsboys. For most of the newsboys, this was not a before or after-school activity but a full-time job necessary to help support themselves or their families.

Keywords

United States
Child laborers
Documentary
Photography
Child
Gelatin Silver