Historical Photos of Child Labor in NC Textile Mills

February 4, 2012

During the late 19th and early 20th century, the few laws prohibiting child labor were moderate and rarely enforced.

In North Carolina, the age limit was 13 for employment in factories such as mills, and children under 18 were allowed to work up to a shocking 66 hours per week! Mill owners had to “knowingly and willfully” break these laws before they could be convicted.

Even more lenient laws were in place in South Carolina, where the age limit for factory workers was 12 years old. However, orphans and children with “dependent” parents (those too sick to work) could work at any age and any amount of hours.

These laws were rarely, if ever, enforced. Former child workers remember scrambling to hide in closets on the few occasions when factory inspectors would visit to check on working conditions in the mill.

Clicking on a thumbnail will bring up the photo in full size
and you may then toggle through at your own pace.

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 11

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 10

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 09

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 08

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 07

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 06

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 05

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 04

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 03

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 02

Child labor in North Carolina textile mills 01

Source: US Slave Blogspot

TAGS:

child labor, labor laws, North Carolina, photos, textile mills, US history

15 responses to “Historical Photos of Child Labor in NC Textile Mills”

El Guapo

February 4, 2012 at 8:49 pm

What prompted this? Was it the move starting in Congress to roll back some child labor laws?

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1. She speaks….
  
  February 4, 2012 at 9:04 pm
  
  No. When I was searching for more details about the letter I posted from a former slave to former master, I came across that site. I love historical America stuff. Especially photography.
  
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2. She speaks….
  
  February 4, 2012 at 9:04 pm
  
  But Gnewt did cross my mind, but decided to leave politics out of this post.
  
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V. Lyn

February 4, 2012 at 9:36 pm

I wrote several post concerning the history of the unions and the horrific child labor standards prior to the unions. Children as young a s 6 worked the mines, textile industries, farms and plantation, and virtually every where adults worked and died at unbelievable numbers or were injured and maimed. The working conditions were deplorable and adult laborers fared little better. Black workers had it even worse…The breaking of the unions allows for the roll back of many of the laws we take for granted, and we better be really careful when we think we would never allow those conditions to exist in America today. Because the reality each time we step back a tad for those days republican harken so much for we become blind and complacent and the next thing we know that statement everyone thought was so far fetched of Newt Gingrich concerning making poor children as young as 7 work the closer it becomes not so far fetched not such a crazy notion. The unions are very needed they gave us workmen comp, minimum wage, vacation time, a reasonable work week, and corporations and their toadies have been working to destroy the power of the union ever since.

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1. She speaks….
  
  February 4, 2012 at 9:41 pm
  
  It frightens me because in may areas I see our country regressing rather than progressing. And worker’s rights seem to be one of the “going backwards” items because the corporations are taking over the country and destroying anything in their path in order to make more of a profit. I’m not real “up” on union conflict simply because I have had not interaction with any personally, nor anyone that I am close with. However, I have seen what life is like for many of the coal mine workers in WV as I have family in that area. I honestly cannot imagine what the hell is going through Newt’s mind to actually consider putting children to work!
  
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The Hook

February 5, 2012 at 5:42 am

Very powerful work you’ve done here.

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1. She speaks….
  
  February 5, 2012 at 7:47 am
  
  Thank you.
  
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Don in Massachusetts

February 7, 2012 at 2:12 pm

Here’s a link to the Bread and Roses website, that has all kinds of info, of what happened and led to the strike at the woolen mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the city I was born and raised in.

http://www.breadandrosesheritage.org/

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1. She speaks….
  
  February 7, 2012 at 3:44 pm
  
  Cool, thanks! I’ll check it out when I get out of this horrid place called work. Ugh – had an doozy of an idiot on the phone early… not a good way to start my day.
  
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  1. Don in Massachusetts
    
    February 7, 2012 at 3:47 pm
    
    You’re welcome, and whatever websites concerning Bread and Roses, I will pass them along to you…
    
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Chris Sheridan

February 10, 2012 at 6:06 pm

The good old days, huh? Unions may have some negative issues, but I’d far rather have them than not have them, and have the weak and the poor at the mercy of the most ruthless businesses and corporations.

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1. She speaks….
  
  February 10, 2012 at 6:31 pm
  
  Absolutely.
  
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Christy Buboltz

February 14, 2012 at 11:07 pm

Whether we have the unions are not, I am thankful for how far we have come. I was looking at the labor/wage standards at textile mills abroad when I came across this post. In the U.S., we know that our textile laborers are treated more humanely than that of their overseas counterparts. That is why I choose to use U.S. textiles. Child labor in the textile industry may be a thing of the past in the U.S., but it is alive and well in many other parts of the world. I don’t think Newt could children back to work (even if he was serious).

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1. She speaks….
  
  February 14, 2012 at 11:12 pm
  
  This is true. We are much further ahead than other countries. And, no… Newt would not be able to make any changes.
  
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We Knew This Would Work | The Lyceum

April 11, 2013 at 12:06 pm

[…] Historical Photos of Child Labor in NC Textile Mills « Motley News …motleynews.net […]

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